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.
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 send richer data more cost effectively than has ever been possible. We have demonstrated that citizen scientists can generate data at an unprecedented scale, identifying 1 billion DNA sequences from 600 samples across 1.5 million square kilometres of ocean. This has been achieved for around 10% of the cost of traditional ocean data acquisition.
Support our work
Citizens of the Sea is a charitable trust from Aotearoa New Zealand that was formed in November 2024. We provide equipment and training to our sailors and pay for analysis and reporting of the samples collected. This comes at a cost and we need additional support our operations.
Sponsor a yacht for a year $1900 is the average cost for a cruising yacht in the Pacific Rally to collect and analyse samples. Sponsor a yacht and you’ll see their collection points over the cruising season and the results at each. We’ll also send you some cool merch.
Donate we will happily accept donations of any denomination and provide you with a tax-deductible receipt.
Prefer to pay on an invoice? Contact us and we’ll happily issue one for you.
Commercial ships Pay As You Go (PAYG) for a fee, commercial ships can install our DNAutic device to their water intake and collect eDNA as they go. They can spread the goodness by sponsoring a number of yachts at the same time. Contact us if this sounds like you.
Volunteer if you’re a keen sailor and planning on cruising along routes between New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, New Caledonia and Australia in 2026, please register your interest to be a sailor scientist and join our team.
Our citizen scientists
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Ocean Calling
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Hinemoana II
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Lucky Jonny
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Warrior
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Jadamama
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Moana
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Whisky Romeo Hotel
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Leeway
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Nahla
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Way To Go
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ZamZam
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Geniet Lewe
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.