As part of this partnership, on 9 August Blancpain and Oceania will begin the 'Project Alacranes' expedition, which will explore the depths of two areas that are home to some of the greatest underwater riches in the Gulf of Mexico. During an id 15-day period, the expedition boat will sail through the Arrecife Alacranes National Park, which also includes an area called Bajos del Norte ('Scorpion Reef' in English). The aim of the mission is to document the health of the biodiversity and unveil the secrets of these reefs, which are little affected by human activities. Blancpain's relationship with the oceans has been going on for almost 70 years, more precisely since 1953, when the first Fifty Fathoms was launched. Through the Blancpain Ocean Commitment programme, the Swiss watchmaker has co-financed no fewer than 20 major scientific expeditions and made a decisive contribution to expanding the surface area of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) worldwide, adding over 4 million additional square kilometres. The House has also presented numerous documentaries, photographic exhibitions of underwater images and various publications. What will start on 9 August is Oceania's first expedition to Mexico, where it will work with the help of state-of-the-art technology. Thus, from 9 to 23 August, ten scientists specialised in different specialities will explore the area and carry out environmental DNA analyses, as well as photogrammetric models. The use of the 'Fish Hunter PRO' sonar will provide information on fish shoals, helping to establish parameters for tracking the stock of fish of commercial interest and the creation of rules of behaviour for the sustainable management of fish stocks. "Our goal is the collection of scientific information, which will allow us to take a snapshot of the current state of this Marine Protected Area, and then use this information to promote the changes needed to protect this important ecosystem and ensure its future," said Renata Terrazas, Director General of Oceana.
Terrazas went on to explain that Mexico is one of the 17 nations with the greatest biodiversity and that the Scorpion Reef, located 140 km north of the Yucatan Peninsula, is the largest coral reef in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Its study and conservation are necessary, as it is home to numerous threatened species and several commercial species that breed here before migrating to regions where fishing is an important economic activity. Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Blancpain, added: "Blancpain has had a particularly close connection with the oceans since the early 1950s when we introduced the Fifty Fathoms, the first modern dive watch. Under the Blancpain Ocean Commitment, our goal is to raise public awareness of the importance of the oceans to human life and to help protect them. To this end, our activities revolve around three axes: beauty, to show what the underwater world can offer and arouse interest; knowledge, to learn more about areas that require special attention; and protection, to ensure the effective conservation of the oceans. We are proud to participate in the Alacranes project, which corresponds to these three criteria, and we are convinced that Oceana's capabilities in the field of exploration, scientific research and appeal can make a difference for Mexico's biodiversity, but also for local populations and, on a larger scale, for the world." Video content and preliminary data will be disseminated on Oceana's social channels, allowing people to follow the scientific expedition closely: @OceanaMexico on Twitter and Facebook, and @oceanamexico on Instagram.
