I recently had the privilege of exploring the advanced research vessel JAYWUN, developed by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD). This experience was part of an extraordinary event hosted by the Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi Ocean Institute. The institute’s first international Ocean Conference, titled “Towards the UN Ocean Conference 2025: Ocean: Science, Policy & Blue Economy, a Common Ambition for the UAE, France, and Costa Rica,” took place on Thursday, 30 May 2024.
The conference’s aim was to gather leading scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss and develop strategies for sustainable ocean management and the blue economy, aligning the ambitions of the UAE, France, and Costa Rica ahead of the UN Ocean Conference 2025.
The anticipation of visiting the JAYWUN and meeting experts in the field filled me with excitement and curiosity. The staff aboard the JAYWUN were incredibly welcoming, and the experts were eager to share their knowledge, providing us with detailed information about the vessel’s capabilities and the groundbreaking research being conducted. Their enthusiasm and dedication created an atmosphere charged with a sense of purpose and a collective drive to advance our understanding and management of the oceans.
About the JAYWUN
The research vessel JAYWUN is uniquely equipped to delve into the depths of our oceans, conducting a wide range of comprehensive surveys:
- Blue Carbon Assessments: Evaluating the carbon sequestration potential of oceanic fisheries.
- Resource and Fisheries Surveys: Comprehensive surveys to assess fishery resources.
- Climate Change Research: Investigating the impacts of climate change on marine environments.
- Deep-Water Habitat Mapping: Conducting surveys to map deep-sea habitats.
- Deep-Water Megafauna Surveys: Studying large marine organisms in deep waters.
- Invasive Species Surveys: Assessing the presence and impact of invasive marine species.
- Marine Water Quality Assessments: Evaluating the quality of marine water.
- Air Quality Assessments: Monitoring and assessing air quality.
- Plastic Pollution Studies: Investigating plastic pollution in marine environments.
- Marine Heritage Studies: Exploring shipwrecks and historical pearl diving sites.
JAYWUN is equipped with advanced research technology, including remote control devices, underwater drones, fishing gear, cranes, nets, seafloor mapping and acoustic devices, advanced video imaging systems, DNA analysis equipment, and diving facilities. The vessel also boasts six onboard laboratories specializing in fisheries, air quality, acoustic devices, chemistry, biophysics, and sample analysis.
The exploration of JAYWUN and the Sorbonne conference mark significant milestones in marine research and conservation efforts. With the advanced capabilities of JAYWUN and the collaborative efforts of global experts, we are poised to make groundbreaking strides in understanding and preserving our ocean ecosystems.
