Issue 115 - December 2024
Oh Buoy! Curtin & NASA Unlock Ocean Secrets from Space
Curtin University has joined forces with NASA, the University of Miami, San José State University and the National Institute of Standards and Technology on a new-generation satellite mission to study the colour of the ocean from space, providing vital information about ocean health and its role in climate regulation.

Researchers recently deployed a 15-metre-tall buoy off the coast of Perth, Western Australia, as part of a new project to ensure the data quality for NASA’s newly launched PACE (Plankton, Aerosols, Clouds, Ocean Ecosystems) satellite mission.

Professor David Antoine, head of Curtin’s Remote Sensing and Satellite Research Group (RSSRG) in the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said the new optical system, known as MarONet (Marine Optical Network), deployed near WA’s Rottnest Island will play a critical role in verifying – or ‘ground- truthing’ – PACE’s satellite observations.
“We typically think of the ocean’s colour as blue, but in many places, it looks blue-green because those areas are teeming with single-celled plants called phytoplankton, which contain chlorophyll and absorb the blue light,” Professor Antoine said.
“Phytoplankton are tiny plants that, in addition to being a vital food source for all marine life, collectively produce more than half of the world’s oxygen and absorb almost as much carbon dioxide as all the trees and land plants on Earth.
“By measuring the colour of the ocean with both satellites and sea-based sensors, we can study the enormous impact phytoplankton have on our climate and the potential of this tiny plant to help combat climate change.
“Sensors on the buoy capture and analyse colours within sunlight reflected from the ocean to measure algae levels. This data is sent to shore via the mobile network, where it then helps fine-tune the satellite sensors for more accurate ocean monitoring.”

Project lead engineer Andrew Gray, also from Curtin’s RSSRG, said the collaboration with NASA will help ensure the accuracy of data collected by its PACE satellite.
“MarONet will improve the accuracy of remote sensing data collected by NASA by comparing it with physical measurements taken at ground level,” Mr Gray said.
“The unique oceanic conditions and clear atmosphere at the MarONet buoy site near Rottnest make it ideal for accurate calibration.
“Curtin is proud to be a part of this important global initiative and looks forward to advancing our understanding of Earth’s oceans and climate.”
University of Miami Principal Investigator Professor Art Gleason said the MarONet buoy deployed off Perth complements NASA’s existing sea-based (MOBY) systems.
“There are sea-based sensors off Hawaii that have been operating for more than 20 years, allowing close coordination with the new buoy off Rottnest,” Professor Gleason said.


About Curtin University
Curtin University is Western Australia’s largest university, with close to 60,000 students. In addition to the University’s main campus in Perth, Curtin also has a major regional campus in Kalgoorlie, and a campus in Midland, as well as four global campuses in Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai and Mauritius. Curtin staff and students come from Australia and more than 140 other countries around the world, with about half our international students studying at Curtin’s offshore campuses.
Curtin is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide, with the University placed 9th in Australia according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2023 and has achieved a QS Five Stars Plus rating, the highest available for a tertiary institution, and one of only five to do so in Australia.
The University has built a reputation around innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit, being at the forefront of many high-profile research projects in astronomy, biosciences, economics, mining and information technology. It is also recognised globally for its strong connections with industry and for its commitment to preparing students for the jobs of the future.
For further information, visit curtin.edu.au.
Feature Destination
Journeys With Purpose – Visit South Africa

Journeys With Purpose offers immersive conservation and ethical travel experiences. Through private and hosted trips with pioneering conservationists, guests experience rewilding and restoring biodiversity in the wildest corners of the world. Our “Seven Worlds, One Planet” approach is a global curriculum focused on recovering and conserving vibrant landscapes, biodiversity, wildlife and livelihoods across all seven continents.
Issue 115 - December 2024
SEVENSEAS Travel Magazine – December 2024 – Issue 115

National Geographic Explorer Thomas Peschak to Receive 2025 Eliza Scidmore Award for Outstanding Storytelling
Award-winning photographer and National Geographic Explorer Thomas P. Peschak will receive the National Geographic Society’s 2025 Eliza Scidmore Award for Outstanding Storytelling for his long legacy of conservation storytelling at National Geographic and beyond. Read more…
The Changing Face of Little Cayman’s Reefs: One Year on From The Most Extensive Global Coral Bleaching on Record
As part of the Healthy Reefs Programme, the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) has been monitoring the reefs of Little Cayman for 26 years. This long-term data set allows CCMI’s researchers to understand trends and changes over time and make informed decisions to protect coral reefs. Read more…
Manta Ray Magic: Witnessing a Feeding Frenzy in the Great Barrier Reef – Photography by Aliya Siddiqi

While working at an island that’s known as “the home of the manta ray,” it’s easy for most of us staff to get jaded at seeing one or two manta rays…per day. Maybe they do a quick cruise past, or maybe a stop at the cleaning station. Read more…
Upstream: The Last Journey of Chum Salmon
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The Iris Project: Enabling Young People to Protect and Restore Nature
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Rolex Celebrates our Planet’s Poles, Mountains and Forest
Today, this network of pioneers is shedding light on the challenges we all face in a changing climate. Spread across the world, the explorers and researchers are showing how fundamentally linked the earth’s myriad landscapes are and how vulnerable they have become. Read more…
Journeys With Purpose – Kids on Safari: Frequently Asked Questions
Being able to experience a truly wild family holiday is a bucket-list adventure for most, but can require a little more forethought when planning. This article, and the expertise of our specialist team, is aimed to take the guesswork out of taking your kids on safari so you can look forward to enjoying a memorable family vacation. Read more…
Journeys With Purpose – Visit South Africa

From the golden beaches of Durban to the vineyards of Stellenbosch and Kruger National Park’s sweeping plains, South Africa offe s a holistic fusion of nature, history and adventure. Spend a week exploring the vibrant capital and venture to the top of Table Mountain for panoramic views, or head to the whale-watching capital of the world Read more…
Journeys With Purpose – Rewilding the Karoo: A Journey Through Samara
Nestled in the heart of South Africa’s Great Karoo, Samara Karoo Reserve offers a testament to the remarkable power of rewilding. This 67,000-hectare landscape once overgrazed and fragmented by farming, now thrives as a haven for biodiversity, blending science, sustainability, and community-driven conservation. Read more…
Oh Buoy! Curtin & NASA Unlock Ocean Secrets from Space
Curtin University has joined forces with NASA, the University of Miami, San José State University and the National Institute of Standards and Technology on a new-generation satellite mission to study the colour of the ocean from space, providing vital information about ocean health and its role in climate regulation. Read more…
Ocean of Threads: A Fusion of Fashion, Art, and Marine Conservation
Larnaka, Cyprus – In an inspired convergence of art, marine environmental awareness, and community engagement, artist Michalis Pantelidis has collaborated with the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research and the Larnaka Tourism Board for the project “Ocean of Threads”. Read more…
Book Suggestion – The Secrets of The Open Sea: A Review of “Into The Great Wide Ocean”
Sönke Johnsen’s “Into the Great Wide Ocean” provides a clear and accessible exploration of the pelagic ocean between the surface and the seafloor. Looking beyond the familiar parts of coastal ecosystems, Johnsen, a professor of biology at Duke University, focuses on the unique challenges and evolutionary adaptations of life in the open sea. Read more…
Dive into Action This Holiday Season: Double the Difference for Coral Reefs
The Reef-World Foundation – international coordinator of the UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative – has been selected to join the Big Give Christmas Challenge. Double your donation to The Reef-World Foundation in the Big Give’s Christmas Challenge. The charity is taking part in the Christmas Challenge to raise £4,000 in just 1 week. Read more…
NOAA Advances Efforts to Identify Aquaculture Opportunity Areas
NOAA Fisheries released two draft programmatic environmental impact statements (PEIS) to support the identification of proposed Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in Southern California and the Gulf of Mexico. The public is invited to review and submit comments on the draft statements from November 22, 2024, through February 20, 2025. Read more…
The International SeaKeepers Society Hosts the Annual Founders Event 2024
The International SeaKeepers Society hosted its Annual Founders Event at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, Florida during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS). Guests celebrated the remarkable achievements of the evening’s honorees, including 2024 SeaKeeper of the Year, Guy Harvey, and 2024 NextGen Awardee, Shireen Rahimi. Read more…
Hope for Right Whales
Researchers have identified four components of hope. The first is setting realistic goals and identifying realistic pathways to achieve them. Mental fortitude in the face of daunting circumstances is needed to achieve goals. The fourth is support from others, fellowship, and teamwork to overcome adversities met along the way. Read more…
New Study Finds Solutions to Whale-Ship Collisions Within Reach

According to the fossil record, cetaceans — whales, dolphins and their relatives — evolved from four-legged land mammals that returned to the oceans beginning some 50 million years ago. Today, their descendants are threatened by a different land-based mammal that has also returned to the sea: humans. Read more…
Time to Normalize Seafood as Part of Our Shared Wildlife
This concept is nothing new, but it is high time we officially normalize it. Years ago in the early 2000s, during a brown bag session at Conservation International, I overheard a comment that caught my attention. These lunchtime sessions, where colleagues shared their work informally, were typically casual, and I was only half-listening. Read more…
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Since 2004, SEVENSEAS Media has fostered an informal and non-partisan platform to promote understanding of key issues and challenges while building partnerships across an increasingly diverse group of marine conservation professionals and students.
Our mission is to promote communication and build partnerships across the global marine community and to identify and address gaps in the community’s work. SEVENSEAS Media achieves this through multimedia promotion and partnerships. The community consists of a diverse and growing group of participants, including non-governmental organizations, government agencies, foundations, bilateral and multilateral agencies, fellowship programs, independent consultants, and academia/students.
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