Community Oceanography while Watching Whales
Pairing low-cost open-source oceanographic instruments with professional naturalists aboard whale-watching vessels.
At the heart of almost all marine science lies a simple set of measurements which provide the basic data needed to understand our ever-changing ocean--Salinity, Temperature, and Depth. To increase both the coverage and availability of that data, OpenCTD, in partnership with BOEM and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, have teamed up with professional naturalists aboard commercial whale watching vessels to collect high-resolution ocean data using a low-cost, open-source oceanographic instrument.
The foundation for all oceanographic research
A CTD is an oceanographic instrument that measures salinity, temperature, and depth. By measuring these three variables, ocean scientists can reveal the patterns hidden beneath the sea's surface. The CTD is an essential instrument that provides the foundational data for all ocean science. Data collected with a CTD is essential not just for marine scientific research, but for making conservation and management decisions, understanding fish migration, informing climate and coastal resilience policies, predicting hurricanes, and deciding if today will be a nice day to go to the beach.
A variety of OpenCTDs ready to deploy.
Meet the OpenCTD
Commercial CTDs are expensive. Even most affordable models cost several thousand dollars. For many ocean stakeholders this cost is prohibitive. The expense of a commercial CTD is a barrier-to-entry for formal and informal researchers, including scientists from low- and middle-income countries and small island states, as well as citizen oceanographers, environmental educators, conservation and management practitioners, fisherman, and students of all levels interested in understanding their local coasts and waterways.
There is a pressing need for low-cost alternatives to common scientific instruments that allow formal researchers to stretch the impact of extant funding while enabling other ocean users to take ownership over the tools of data production. Founded on the principle that the ocean belongs to everyone, and driven by a core philosophy of open source development, low cost implementation, and accessibility of parts, tools, and skills, the OpenCTD was created to give all ocean stakeholders access to this essential tool of oceanography.
Partnering with Professional Naturalists
In partnership with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation, professional naturalists working on commercial whale watching boats will deploy CTDs throughout New England, collecting high resolution oceanographic data across a wide swath of the North Atlantic.
Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company.
Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company has been in operation for over 30 years. Offering whale watching out into the eastern regions of the Gulf of Maine, Bar Harbor Whale Watch has been very fortunate to be involved in the Community Science Water Quality project. Bar Harbor Whale Watch currently partners with non-profits, environmental programs, and research agencies such as Allied Whale at the College of the Atlantic, Center for Coastal Studies, SWBMS, Oceanography for Everyone, Whale SENSE, Acadia National Park, and Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge. These partnerships have allowed the whale watch to become both a research and education platform, teaching thousands of passengers every year, how vital understanding the health of the Gulf of Maine is to protecting thousands of marine species.
CRESLI.
The Coastal Research & Education Society of Long Island was founded in the summer of 1996 by a group of experts in marine mammal science, environmental sciences, education and conservation. CRESLI was formed for the purposes of conducting research, providing educational experiences and promoting conservation of coastal ecosystems. Research and education are inextricably linked in all CRESLI activities.
Boston Harbor City Crusies
Boston Harbor City Cruises operates the New England Aquarium Whale Watch. Our dedicated group of naturalists work hard to spread conservation messages and give guests a positive experience about the marine environment. One of BHCC’s true passions is to utilized and share whale watch data to the conservation world, which is why we are excited to be part of this project!
