Citizens of the Sea brings seafarers and scientists together to collect biodiversity and environmental observations from remote, under-sampled waters.
Explore our missionA shared observatory
Cruising yachts, racing teams, voyaging vessels and commercial ships already cross waters that are difficult and expensive for dedicated research expeditions to reach.
With practical tools and shared protocols, participating crews can gather observations at sea while scientists analyse and interpret them ashore. Environmental DNA is one part of a broader picture that can include onboard sensors, environmental context and satellite observations.
From wake to sequence
The programme turns the ordinary rhythm of offshore passage-making into a distributed sampling network.
Every sample helps reveal the life in our ocean.
On film
The star of the story is one of our sailing families: Liz, Barry, Lily, Felix and Rufus who talk about how the ocean brings joy to their lives and why they want to work with Citizens of the Sea to help protect it. Watch it below.
Empowering sailors to collect eDNA across the South Pacific
Thanks to the Minderoo Foundation, we are very fortunate to be part of a new series produced for International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions.
A letter to Nature
Liz Powell is a sailor and Citizens of the Sea participant. This is her letter to Nature.
Field notes
A paper published on 30 September 2026 in Molecular Ecology finds that eDNA (environmental DNA) collected by citizen seafarers provides high-quality scientific data, covering large areas…
This article beautifully captures the vision we’ve been working toward for years: transforming racing yachts into floating laboratories capable of collecting biodiversity data across the…
This year we’re sending off 24 Citizen Scientist crews across the Southwest Pacific, expanding our reach even further with new routes from Australia to New Caledonia. During the first…
Our citizen scientists
Real crews carry the work across offshore routes. Their vessels, field knowledge and time at sea are what make this collaboration possible.
Nº 01
Nº 02
Nº 03
Nº 04
Nº 05
Nº 06
Nº 07
Nº 08
Nº 09
Nº 10
Nº 11
Nº 12
Plankton · Photo: Richard Robinson, New Zealand Geographic
Acknowledgments
Citizens of the Sea didn’t happen overnight. We acknowledge the partners and funders who have contributed over a number of years to various pilot projects, hardware and methods that have brought this programme to life.
Take part
The network grows through long-term partners, participating vessels and people who choose to support the work. Start with the path that fits you.
Work with CitSea on programme delivery, research, technology, fleet access or long-term funding.
Interested in taking part? Contact the CitSea team with your vessel, route and timing, and they’ll follow up with relevant opportunities.
Help fund equipment, logistics, laboratory processing, data analysis and the return of findings to ocean communities.
Participation depends on campaign relevance, safety, permissions, equipment and programme capacity.
Ask a question