Gombessa IV
In 2017, the Gombessa IV expedition travelled to the southern pass of Fakarava atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in French Polynesia, in order to study the hunting behavior of an estimated 700 gray reef sharks. In addition to Blancpain’s regular support, this fourth mission benefited from a supplementary 250,000 euro donation stemming from the sale of the first BOC (Blancpain Ocean Commitment) limited-edition watch. Ongoing analysis of the scientific data in several research centers could well reveal for the first time a collaborative behavior among the individuals of this species that appear to hunt in packs. Further to this expedition, a documentary produced by the ARTE television channel, a book written by Laurent Ballesta, and a photography exhibition were unveiled in early 2018.