Everyday thousands of vital scientific temperature measurements are recorded from the ocean all around New Zealand
The data is made freely and publicly available to help us all better understand our changing world.
Moana sensor network
The sub surface sea temperature around New Zealand has a huge impact on out fisheries, weather, wildlife, population and economy
Obtaining sub surface data traditionally involves lowering a scientific instrument through the water from a research vessel. This is very costly and does not generate constant nationwide data
Between 2019 and 2024, the world leading Metservice Moana project ( https://www.moanaproject.org/) successfully developed the Moana sensor network. Automatic temperature sensors were supplied to hundreds of fishing vessels all around Aotearoa New Zealand, generating millions of scientific data-points
This world first sensor network has proved to be a vital tool in identifying marine heatwaves, improving weather forecasts, helping fisheries understand the changing marine environment, and improving marine mathematical models
Support AMOS
Participate
If you operate a vessel and would like to participate in the AMOS sensor network, we would love to hear from you. The equipment is supplied at no cost, and is quick and easy to fit. Once installed, the equipment operates fully automatically.
By taking part, your vessel helps provide valuable ocean information for science and the wider marine community. The data collected (such as latitude/longitude, time, depth, and temperature) is shared openly through public science platforms, including the AMOS THREDDS server and the Global Telecommunications System (GTS).
All data is anonymised by MetService, ensuring that no vessel, operator, or equipment can be directly identified.
Contact our coordinator now to discuss the benefits of becoming a sensor network participant
Sponsor
Whilst we have funding for 100 vessels, we have additional equipment available. If you would like to ensure that you are allocated equipment, you can become a sponsor and pay the annual equipment operating costs of $350 for a Deck Unit and sensor. This is tax deductible, and we will include your company logo in the supporters and sponsor section
Donate
Being a charitable trust, AMOS is very grateful for donations that will help us grow and develop the New Zealand Moana sensor network. These donations are tax deductible
Our valued sponsors and supporters
About AMOS
AMOS is a registered charitable trust that has been established to operate and expand the Moana sensor network. Our role is
- Ensure the equipment is maintained and operated correctly so that accurate and reliable data is generated
- Optimize the distribution of equipment so that data is generated all around New Zealand
- Ensure the data is quality controlled and made freely and publicly available for both New Zealand and international scientists for public good
AMOS receives scientific support from Cawthron, UNSW and Metservice Earth Sciences, and technical and logistical support from ZebraTech
The network is managed by our coordinator, Amba Blommaart-Klay
Amba is a familiar face around the New Zealand fishing industry with many years experience as a fisheries observer, and been involved in electronic monitoring role out and various marine species conservation programs. She is also the Port Nelson representative for Firstmate fisher support, and Mission to Seafarers
Technology
The Moana sensor network uses the Moana TD sensor, developed in New Zealand by ZebraTech
The Moana TD intelligently and automatically adjusts its sampling regime so that it provides high accurate data in any situation. A variety of mounting hardware simplifies attachment to a trawl door, fishing pot, long line, net or handline
A solar powered Deck Unit receives the data from the sensor and uploads it to a cloud database
The Moana sensor system is now also widely used in many other sensor networks around the world
FVON
Using fishing vessels to collect scientific ocean data has become an internationally recognized practice, with sensor networks now established around the world.
The Fishing Vessel Ocean Observing Network (FVON) https://www.fvon.org, is the international coordinating body dedicated to the advancement of ocean observing in partnership with the fishing sector
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