Ammon News - The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) on Monday sealed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with OceanX, an ocean exploration initiative, to explore Jordan’s marine life in the Red Sea.

In a statement, ASEZA’s Chief Commissioner Nayef Bakheet highlighted the importance of the MoU, under which OceanX will provide advanced experience and techniques to explore the marine ecosystem of the Gulf of Aqaba, and help put the Aqaba Marine Reserve on the global network of marine reserves.

"This collaboration comes in implementation of the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II, after declaring the Aqaba Marine Reserve, establishing the Aqaba Marine Science Station, and making the city a port of call for international marine research," he added.

For his part, OceanX’s Vice Chairman Vincent Pieribone expressed his appreciation for collaborating with Jordan’s competent authorities to explore the deep-sea and gain an extended understanding of the biodiversity of the Gulf of Aqaba.

"The 2-week scientific mission in Aqaba includes exploratory trips to conduct studies on Jordanian waters, with participation of Jordanian and international scientists, researchers and students, aboard the most advanced science and media vessel ever built," he said.