The Farasan Banks is an offshore coral reef system, it is fairly well protected from pollution and other stressors common to reefs near populated shorelines with fishing being a notable exception.  Being relatively remote, this area will present the expedition with an opportunity to assess the health of coral reefs without being confounded by issues affecting reefs located in close proximity to urban development pressures. The research conducted during the expedition can be applied towards conservation efforts necessary to preserve coral reefs worldwide.

Additionally, the Expedition to the Red Sea is a final “dry run” before the Golden Fleet embarks on a Global Reef Expedition to better understand the condition of some of the worlds most spectacular reefs and promote international scientific literacy by engaging in a variety of marine science educational programs in each host country. For more information on the Living Oceans Foundation go to http://www.livingoceansfoundation.org and to access a more detailed blog relating to the research, visit http://farasanbanks