Our partnership with The International SeaKeepers Society

This unique collective connects the academic world and the international yachting community. This is in an effort to conserve and understand our oceans through scientific research.

This collective features one common theme - they all use a Neuston Net. This is a fine mesh net, often towed behind boats to collect samples of algae, plastics, plankton, seawater and more. This allows vessels to sample different geographical locations around the world.

One project within the collective is organised by the microplastic research group at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC). Their research addresses some of the crucial questions around microplastics in the ocean, including their fate and ecological effects, to understand the impact it has on marine ecosystems and human life.

This is a global Citizen Science initiative to map the world’s oceans by 2030. The project is a collaboration to provide and manage small hardware data loggers that are used to collect bathymetric data. The project was launched at the United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference in June 2017, and is aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal #14 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.

Through the programme, SeaKeepers are working with private vessels around the world to record depth measurements from navigation instruments while at sea. These yachts explore the world’s oceans, often in areas where data is sparse, non-existent or of poor quality. Contributions from locations like these can have the greatest impact on mapping the seafloor.

The Great White Shark is an important species within marine ecosystems. They serve as top predators and keep the populations of other organisms in balance. While large in size, they can be elusive thanks to their ability to live entirely below the water’s surface, often travelling to great depths. Researchers at Virginia Tech University are using cutting-edge technologies to investigate the species in the Mediterranean Sea.

SeaKeepers’ vessel network is supporting this project by collecting environmental DNA (eDNA) samples from the water column, which once refined, will uncover the hidden movements of Great White Sharks.

RSA and SeaKeepers recognise yachting’s environmental impact and promote sustainable practices, encouraging behavioural shifts. Vessel owners can wield substantial influence, and therefore can educate owners about their role in the environment.

Through SeaKeepers' Green Guide to Boating and Green Marine Programme, we encourage yacht owners to become better ocean stewards and take a proactive role in protecting the marine environment.