Jakarta, Dec. 3 -- Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and OceanX have launched a deep-sea expedition to study a seamount chain in northern Sulawesi, one of the least explored maritime areas in the Indo-Pacific.

BRIN Head Arif Satria said the mission is essential for Indonesia to strengthen its marine science capability amid growing international competition.

"As an archipelagic country and the world's epicenter of biodiversity, Indonesia must be able to spearhead marine science in the region," he said in a statement on Wednesday.

He noted that the expedition aims not only to expand scientific knowledge but also to build national capacity to map and manage the deep sea independently.

Satria added that strong mar...