In July, the Palmahim Slide (also called a Disturbance) became the first Israeli location designated as a “Hope Spot” by Mission Blue, oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle’s organization dedicated to exploring and protecting significant marine areas (>>MORE in Israel 21c). The Palmahim Slide is a biodiversity hotspot where Blackmouth catsharks breed and Bluefin tuna spawn, according to international studies led in the past decade by Prof. Yizhaq Makovsky (Applied Marine Exploration Lab). A recent underwater expedition led by Makovsky discovered the largest concentration of deep-sea shark eggs ever found (>>Read More).