Riding the Waves: How Scientists Hitch a Ride to Map the Ocean
Instead of relying on costly research vessels, scientists are partnering with cargo ships, fishing boats, yachts, and cruise liners to gather vital ocean data. This low-cost “hitchhiker” approach helps fill big gaps in knowledge, especially in remote and under-studied seas.
Aotearoa New Zealand's Sensor Network
Partnering with the commercial fishing sector and Aotearoa New Zealand’s ocean community to develop a nationwide subsurface temperature monitoring program" published in "Progress in Oceanography.
How impactful our observations can be
Assessing the impact of subsurface temperature observations from fishing vessels on temperature and heat content estimates in shelf seas: a New Zealand case study using Observing System Simulation Experiments
A vision for Ocean observing in Aotearoa New Zealand
Developing an Integrated Ocean Observing System for New Zealand
Moana Project: Fishers Helping Scientists Track Ocean Change
New Zealand’s Moana Project teams up with commercial fishers to deploy sensors on fishing gear, tracking subsurface temperature and currents. This helps fill data gaps, forecasts marine heatwaves, and supports resilient seafood communities guided by Māori knowledge.
Looking Forward: a Global View
Towards a global Fishing Vessel Ocean Observing Network (FVON): state of the art and future directions," featuring the sensor networking in Aotearoa New Zealand, in "Frontiers in Marine Science
Fishers + Sensors: Powering Coastal Climate Data in NZ
New Zealand’s Moana Project is equipping commercial fishing vessels with Mangōpare sensors to gather subsurface temperature data near the coast. The info helps close data gaps, improve forecasts, and better prepare fisheries & aquaculture for marine heatwaves.
Boaties in the Sounds: Citizen Sensors Against Marine Heatwaves
In New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds, local boaties are mounting sensors on their vessels to help monitor marine heatwaves — a grassroots push to gather data in coastal waters often skipped by big research ships.
The Big Picture: Why This Work is Important
Fishing Gear as a Data Collection Platform: Opportunities to Fill Spatial and Temporal Gaps in Operational Sub-Surface Observation Networks" in "Frontiers in Marine Science