We are citizens of an ocean planet, but much of it is out of easy reach for science. Every year, thousands of experienced and well-equipped seafarers venture offshore—ocean cruisers, racers and commercial vessels. Citizens of the Sea gives these ocean champions technology and purpose.

Our citizen scientists

  • Bella Vita

  • Diva

  • Eudora

  • Thursday's Child

  • Opal Lady

  • Whisky Romeo Hotel

  • Komaru

  • Master Plan

  • Salsa

  • Yamana

  • Lion's Den

  • Taihoa

Meet all our sailors

With new digital tools and state-of-the-art devices, the roles of data collection and scientific analysis can be separated—citizens can collect and upload, scientists can process and analyse. The goal is to build a platform that provides insights into shifting patterns of life in our oceans.

Our sailors collect environmental DNA, create 3D models of reefs, record biogeochemical data, maintain loggers and send richer data more cost effectively than has ever been possible. Citizens of the Sea will contribute valuable information for climate-related impact assessments and strategies to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems.

USE CASE: A RACE FOR ANSWERS

We worked with The Ocean Race to equip 11th Hour Racing with eDNA monitoring technology for biodiversity assessments. Citizens of the Sea intends to scale up operations to include more racing yachts in the future.

USE CASE: PACIFIC NETWORK

We are committed to create a network of citizen sailors as champions of ocean health. Our user-friendly sampling toolkit was trialled by offshore cruisers in 2023, creating the first dataset of its kind in the South-Pacific. 

USE CASE: REEF MAPPING

With funding from Live Ocean, New Zealand Geographic trialled new photogrammetric technology to model coral reefs, creating a new vision of these complex systems for scientists, policymakers and the community.

Founding partners integrated data from pilot studies in 2023 and will be deploying the technology into the South Pacific with 30 yachts in May 2024. Contact us for more information and partnership opportunities.

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.

Join the crew

Citizens of the Sea welcomes enquiries from funding bodies, enabling agencies and ocean-based citizen science programmes who can see the value in collaboration, cooperation and resource-sharing.