Turning the world’s seafarers into a global ocean-observing network.
Citizens of the Sea brings seafarers and scientists together to collect biodiversity and environmental observations from remote, under-sampled waters.
A shared observatory
Descending from the surface
Where research vessels are scarce, everyday voyages can extend the reach of science.
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.
Voyages
Observations
Insight
From wake to sequence
A voyage becomes a living ocean record.
The programme turns the ordinary rhythm of offshore passage-making into a distributed sampling network.
- 01
Sail
Experienced seafarers cross remote water
Ocean cruisers, racers and commercial vessels reach places that are expensive for research vessels to visit.
OFFSHORE PASSAGE · SOUTH PACIFIC
- 02
Observe
Participating crews gather the field record
Shared protocols make biodiversity sampling and environmental observations practical during an offshore passage.
COLLECT AT SEA · RECORD CONTEXT
- 03
Analyse
Scientists turn observations into evidence
Environmental DNA and supporting context are processed and interpreted with scientific partners ashore.
LAB ANALYSIS · SCIENTIFIC INTERPRETATION
- 04
Share
Insights return to the ocean community
Reports, data experiences and stories return the work to seafarers, partners and ocean communities.
REPORTS · DATA · STORIES
40 m · Thermocline
Below this line, sunlight ends and the archive begins.
On film · 60 m
Liz, Barry, Lily, Felix & Rufus.
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.
A letter to Nature
Liz Powell is a sailor and Citizens of the Sea participant. This is her letter to Nature.
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.
Evidence in view
Follow the evidence, not just the promise.
Credibility comes from showing the methods, people, fieldwork and current data experiences together—without presenting an interim tool as the finished destination.
Method
See how the science works
Follow the field-to-lab process and the role environmental DNA plays within a wider observing system.
Explore the scienceField notes
Meet the work through stories
Campaign updates, seafarer perspectives and research stories make the collaboration tangible.
Read science & storiesCurrent data story
Keep ArcGIS in honest context
The existing ArcGIS story remains available as an interim campaign experience while a more integrated data journey is defined.
Open the interim story
Our citizen scientists · 70 m
The fleet behind the data
Real crews carry the work across offshore routes. Their vessels, field knowledge and time at sea are what make this collaboration possible.
12 featured vessels
from the public archive
Nº 01Ocean CallingeDNA sampling vessel 
Nº 02Hinemoana IIeDNA sampling vessel 
Nº 03Lucky JonnyeDNA sampling vessel 
Nº 04WarrioreDNA sampling vessel 
Nº 05JadamamaeDNA sampling vessel 
Nº 06MoanaeDNA sampling vessel 
Nº 07Whisky Romeo HoteleDNA sampling vessel 
Nº 08LeewayeDNA sampling vessel 
Nº 09NahlaeDNA sampling vessel 
Nº 10Way To GoeDNA sampling vessel 
Nº 11ZamZameDNA sampling vessel 
Nº 12Geniet LeweeDNA sampling vessel
Phytoplankton — the base of the ocean food web, revealed in an eDNA sample
Take part · 120 m
There is more than one way aboard.
The network grows through long-term partners, participating vessels and people who choose to support the work. Start with the path that fits you.
Partner with us
Work with CitSea on programme delivery, research, technology, fleet access or long-term funding.
Join the Fleet
Tell us about your vessel, route and timing. A CitSea team member will reach out with relevant participation opportunities.
Support the work
Help fund equipment, logistics, laboratory processing, data analysis and the return of findings to ocean communities.
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.
Founding
- Cawthron Institute
- New Zealand Geographic
Racing partner
- Vendée Globe Foundation
Pacific partners
- VEPA
- Reef Explorer Fiji
Funders
- Minderoo Foundation
- Illumina
- LiveOcean Foundation
- KiwiNet
- SeaKeepers
- Fonds Pacifique
Supporters & suppliers
- Chapman Tripp
- Ocean Calling
- Tonga Voyaging Society
- Island Cruising
- Conservation International
- Eagle Technology
- Esri
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Sequench
- NGAIODx
- Zymo Research
- Hurst Design
- Kernohan
- Smith-Root
- QIAGEN
Join the Fleet · 900 m
Bring your route into the record.
If you operate an ocean-going vessel, tell us where you plan to travel and how your crew would like to contribute. The first step is intentionally short; practical and eligibility details come later.
Participation depends on campaign relevance, safety, permissions, equipment and programme capacity.
- 01
Your vessel
Name and vessel type
- 02
Your passage
Planned route and timing
- 03
Your interest
How the crew hopes to help