Parts of Caribbean Sea to be mapped for the first time

Large areas of the Caribbean Sea are set to be mapped for the very first time.

The project is part of the Government's Blue Belt programme to support marine conservation and sustainability of the seas around UK overseas territories.

It aims to carry out research in deeper waters around the Caribbean which have never been studied before.

Scientists say they hope to be able to uncover new species found at sea.

The UK-led scientific expedition has set sail on board the research vessel the RSS James Cook, to map nearly two thousand square miles of seabed in largely unexplored, deep water in the Caribbean.

There are 44 scientists are on board and the trip is due to last more than six weeks.

Experts will be searching for hidden deep-sea reefs, using cameras and nets to explore the marine environment, down to the seafloor.

Researchers hope to track "weird and wonderful deep sea fish", and potentially find new species.

They will also gather valuable information on wildlife such as important seabird areas at sea and humpback whale sites.

The expedition will also monitor pollution from plastics and heavy metals and help track climate impacts.

Researchers will also share expertise and provide specialist training for Caribbean scientists taking part in the trip.

The aim of the project is to help support them, for example by highlighting where to establish marine protected areas, as well as tackle climate impacts on ocean health.

Dr James Bell, a deep sea ecologist involved with the project, explained: "That's why we're here with a large ocean-going research vessel that is equipped with a lot of instruments and scientific gear, so that we can start to look at things like what is the biodiversity of these areas, what species actually live in these places.

""Fundamentally, if you don't know what lives there, you don't know how to protect it," he told the Press Association.