Brussels, 02/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 2 February, the European Commission welcomed the launch that day of the new Google Ocean that allows users to explore some of the world's oceans and seas. The extension of Google Earth lets users take a virtual swim around underwater volcanoes, consult information on sea flora and fauna and find out about shipwrecks. Some functions provide users with information on sites for possible exploration and give some environmental information (temperature of the surface of the earth, chlorophyll levels, etc.)
European Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg said that Google Ocean complied with “our objective” which consists of making information on the seas more accessible to citizens and companies. “We know very little about the oceans,” he said, noting the work carried out by the Commission in this area. The Commission is putting in place a European Marine Observation and Data Network and, later in the year, will publish a prototype European Atlas of the Seas. Google representatives hoped that the forthcoming European atlas of the seas would become part of Google Ocean. (L.C./transl.rt)