The Moana Project: Crowd Sourcing Ocean Data Collection Through the Seafood Sector to Improve Ocean Models, Supporting the Blue Economy.

New Zealand is an island nation at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. It derives wealth and wellbeing from the ocean, including a seafood sector worth $4.18B annually, and yet, their vast ocean estate is poorly understood. NZ lags other developed nations that have integrated ocean observing and prediction programmes, and thus cannot comprehensively measure, observe or predict the state of their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Ocean circulation drives the transport of larvae, determines population connectivity and impacts fisheries recruitment and abundance, all of which are being impacted by ocean warming and changes in circulation patterns.

Embracing ‘the Internet of Things’ concepts, we are developing a low-cost smart ocean sensor to be deployed throughout NZ’s EEZ by the seafood sector. By crowd sourcing ocean data collection with the support of seafood industry partners, iwi (indigenous) and recreational fishing communities, we will revolutionise ocean data collection, in what is a data poor region of the Pacific Ocean. The temperature profile data is returned in near real time via the cell phone network (or satellite) and prepared for ingestion into data assimilating ocean prediction models. Supported by these new data streams the NZ Meteorological Service is developing an open-access nationwide Ocean Analysis and Prediction System. The models and data are delivered to the community through smart tools.

This disruptive technology approach is an exemplar for other marine nations with strong seafood sectors and under investment in the marine observing and modelling space. We show the benefit of partnering with end users to collect and return research quality datasets, and integration with ocean models that are relevant for industry needs.

This project will underpin operational efficiencies, biosecurity protection, risk mitigation and economic growth for NZ’s seafood sector ensuring long-term sustainability.