The ocean is a vital part of our planet, harbouring diverse ecosystems and supporting life in ways we are only beginning to understand. Many yacht owners and their crews share a deep connection with the ocean, drawn to its beauty and adventure. However, marine scientists face significant challenges in accessing the ocean for research. Limited funding and availability of research vessels restrict their ability to study and conserve marine environments.
Enter Yachts for Science – a platform that connects yacht owners and crews with marine scientists and conservationists. Through this collaboration, yacht owners can contribute their resources to support crucial research projects, such as coral research, marine life tagging, and climate data collection.
These projects are selected based on their contribution to marine science and are conducted in coordination with local scientific communities. Yacht owners can provide essential resources like deck space and scuba equipment, which are often abundant on yachts. By participating in Yachts for Science, owners not only support valuable research but also gain access to unique destinations and firsthand experiences of the ocean’s beauty and diversity.
Join the movement today and make a difference in ocean conservation. Get involved and help shape a future where the ocean thrives for generations to come.
CRYPTIC CORALS WITH DR SCOTT BURGESS
Location: French Polynesia
Berths: 2-4 berths
Equipment required: SCUBA tanks, air compressor and deck space for coral processing
Dr Burgess discovered a new species of coral, and identified ‘cryptic species’ of coral, which are corals that look the same but are in fact genetically distinct species. Scott discovered that some cryptic species bleached and died during the 2019 heatwave at Moorea, while other species did not bleach or die, and he is trying to understand why. More importantly his results show which species are more resilient to climate change, and the possible genetic underpinnings of adaptation to climate change.
FINDING NEMO WITH DR BENJAMIN TITUS
Locations: Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Philippines, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Seychelles, Maldives
Berths: 4 berths
Equipment required: SCUBA tanks, tender and a table to process samples
Scientifically, the clownfish- sea anemone symbiosis is now considered a model system to test a wide range of scientific hypotheses across the biological sciences, including areas such as evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, climate change, reproduction, population connectivity, and conservation, among others. However, key mysteries remain to be unravelled. Most surprisingly, the evolution and function of clownfish colour patterns themselves are unknown. Dr Titus research has generated recent discoveries that directly link clownfish colour patterns to the host sea anemone they reside in. We hypothesise that colour has a protective function and is related to how they interact with their host.
DECODING THE DEEP-SEA WITH DR PAIGE MARONI
Locations: Macquarie Island, the Gulf of Alaska, Greenland Sea or the Norwegian Sea
Berths: 2 – 4 berths
Equipment required: Tender and deck space for launching autonomous freefalling deep-sea vehicle
The deep sea is the world’s largest ecosystem yet, phylogenetic relationships among deep-sea orders remain unresolved. Using novel deep-sea technologies to preserve deep-sea genomes in situ, we will collect invaluable genetic data, which in turn will be used to illuminate the phylogenies of a myriad of deep-sea species. This will enrich our understanding of their biodiversity and the tectonic processes that have shaped our oceans, thus uncovering evolutionary dynamics in the world’s largest ecosystem.
Yachts for Science has been running for four years supported by Founding partners EYOS Expeditions, Nekton, OFF, BOAT and Arksen. Seven scientific projects have been completed in that time from kelp to black corals and shark tagging.
The Lost 4th Island with Dr. Goodbody-Gringley
Locations: Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, 12-Mile Bank, Pickle Bank
Berths: 2 – 8 berths
Equipment required: Skiff for deploying and retrieving technical divers, Ample space for dive gear, including tanks and potentially booster pumps.
Our aim is to uncover the biodiversity of benthic and pelagic communities using cutting-edge technologies, such as in-situ surveys, photogrammetry, benthic mapping, and genetic analyses. Why is this important? Coral reef systems are biodiversity hotspots and provide benefits to millions, however, they face threats from overfishing and climate change, particularly nearshore. Offshore seamounts are critical stepping-stones shaping the biogeography of many species but are increasingly targeted for fishing detrimentally impacting their communities.
Yachts for Science has been running for four years supported by Founding partners EYOS Expeditions, Nekton, OFF, BOAT and Arksen. Seven scientific projects have been completed in that time from kelp to black corals and shark tagging.
Register your interest and find a research project to work with your itinerary. Email: [email protected] or visit www.yachtsforscience.com
