On the 12th of June at 12:45 pm, a documentary produced by the Oceanic Observatory of Madeira entitled ‘À Beira do Mar Profundo’ will premiere on RTP Internacional.
The documentary was filmed as part of the 2018 oceanographic survey portraying the scientific work carried out by a vast technical-scientific team using avant-garde technology.
During the mission, deep and previously unchartered areas of the Madeira Sea were explored and one of the greatest scientific discoveries of recent times in the region was made – the observation and collection of cold water corals at a depth of approximately 2000m, on the banks of the submarine canyon of Ribeira Brava. This discovery was only possible thanks to the use of the Remotely Operated Vehicle ROV Luso, operated by the Mission Structure for the Extension of the Continental Shelf (EMEPC). Coral communities such as these provide habitat for other organisms and many are considered to be vulnerable marine ecosystems of high ecological and conservation value. In Madeira, these communities appear to be in the pristine condition with no evident traces of human impact.
According to a press statement, during this oceanographic mission, a great deal of information was collected, part of which has already been analysed. However, there is still much meteo-oceanographic, biological and ecological data that requires further analysis and this task will be undertaken by various specialists over the coming years.
In addition to the premiere at RTP Internacional Europa, the documentary will also be shown on the same day at RTP Internacional América, at 10:00 pm, with a repeat on 14th of June, at 6:30 pm while on the 13th of June it will be broadcast on RTP Internacional Asia, at 9:45 am. Later, on the 12th and 13th of October 2020, the documentary will be screened at the International Market for Communication Programs (MIPCOM), Cannes, France.
The oceanographic campaign and its documentary was financed by the project M1420-01- 0145-FEDER-000001-Madeira Ocean Observatory-OOM.
And here is a sneak preview of the promotional video:
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
