The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stressed in Horta the "important role" played by the submarine LULA 1000 and the Rebikoff-Niggeler Foundation in "the knowledge and exploration of deep-sea ecosystems in the Azores."

Speaking during a visit to the catamaran Ada Rebikoff and the submersible LULA 1000, one of the 10 manned vehicles in the world that is capable of diving 1,000 metres, Fausto Brito e Abreu mentioned that "some of the scientific studies conducted in the Azores Sea were only possible due to this manned submarine."

"The Regional Government, through the Regional Directorate for Sea Affairs, has collaborated with the Rebikoff-Niggeler Foundation. It has signed a contract with this institution for 20 hours of immersion, that is, four dives per year for oceanographic studies," the Regional Secretary said, highlighting "the great potential of samples from deep-sea organisms in the marine biotechnology industry."

For Fausto Brito e Abreu, "this is the right time to set eyes on deep sea and invest in the exploitation of our marine resources with the aim of generating more wealth and employment in the Region. The government official stressed that "this fascinating equipment can play an important in a series of studies on deep-sea ecosystems that have a huge scientific and economic potential yet to be explored."

Reporting teams from several television stations have taken part in some of the missions carried out by LULA 1000, seeking the Azores and the Rebikoff-Niggeler Foundation to capture unique high-resolution images depicting deep-sea marine life for Nature and Animal Wildlife documentaries.

"I am aware that international television stations, like BBC, make documentaries on marine life in the Atlantic and have already pre-booked dives on the LULA 1000. They can bring added to the Region as, in addition to disseminating scientific culture, they contribute to the promotion of the Azores and the potentialities of our sea," emphasised the government official.

Operated by the Rebikoff-Niggeler Foundation, headquartered on Faial since 1994, the LULA 1000 has dived fifty times in multiple deep-sea habitats in the Azores. It has unravelled and mapped marine environments that were previously unknown.

Some of the activities carried out by this submersible in the Azores Sea have taken place under protocols signed with the Regional Government and the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries of the University of the Azores.