Andrew Forrest’s Pangaea Ocean Explorer expeditions to be partly funded by taxpayers
Taxpayers will help fund a series of expeditions aboard one of Andrew Forrest’s superyachts under a new partnership announced by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.
The Albanese government will help fund a series of research expeditions aboard Andrew Forrest’s superyacht-cum-research vessel under a new partnership announced by federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek.
The Commonwealth will tip in $3.4m towards an $11.8m research project planned by Dr Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation.
The iron ore billionaire’s 58.22m superyacht Pangaea Ocean Explorer will spend two years carrying out expeditions in marine parks along the coasts of Western Australia, Christmas Island and the Cocos Keeling Islands as part of the OceanOmics project.
The research project aims to deliver findings that will help improve the understanding and management of Australia’s marine parks.
The voyages will analyse water samples collected during those expeditions for traces of environmental DNA, or eDNA, to identify the species of sea life present in those areas.
Dr Forrest – who earned his doctorate in marine biology from the University of Western Australia in 2019 – has long been passionate about the potential of eDNA to deepen the scientific understanding of the world’s oceans. Just one millilitre of seawater can contain thousands of DNA fragments and cells.
He detailed his ocean research ambitions in an interview with The Weekend Australian magazine in 2021, describing how eDNA could eventually “light up the ocean” by rapidly and accurately determining the abundance of marine life globally. In a statement, Ms Plibersek said eDNA research would transform ocean conservation.
“It means we could dip a bucket into the water and by the power of science detect if an endangered species has been in the area recently,” she said.
“It’s an incredibly exciting field of research, and I want to see more philanthropic groups and governments working together like this, to maximise both of our strengths.”
Dr Forrest said the world’s oceans were under threat globally from over-fishing, plastic pollution and climate change.
“This is a pivotal moment in response to a planetary emergency,” he said.
“OceanOmics is key to understanding the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems, and informing our response to ensure the oceans are returned to a flourishing state.”
Dr Forrest last year collected some $2.34bn in dividends from his iron ore company Fortescue Metals Group and will this month receive a further $848m dividend cheque. His one-third shareholding in the company has made him the richest man in Australia, with a current estimated net worth of $US21.8bn ($32.4bn).
His philanthropic arm Minderoo in 2021 opened a marine research lab at Exmouth, on WA’s northwest coast, and in 2022 unveiled the eDNA-focused Ocea-nOmics Centre at UWA.
Since purchasing the Pangaea in 2018, Dr Forrest has carried out an overhaul of the vessel. Multiple laboratories and specialist research equipment have been installed.
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