2021 Moana Project hui
When your collaborative ocean research project involves 54 experts from across 14 national & international organisations, it’s important to bring everyone together (in person or virtually) to share progress.
On May 27th & 28th the five workstreams that make up this project gathered in Te Whanganui a Tara for the annual Moana Project Hui. While many of the teams collaborate regularly there is nothing like seeing how all the pieces fit together and to feel energised by the collective effort that will change the way we see our seas.
Now past the midpoint, the five year research project is on track.
We’re doing unique science that combines mātauranga Māori, microchemistry, genetics and ocean modelling to better understand three kaimoana species (mussels, pāua and rock lobster) and how changes in the ocean affect them.
We’ve developed an innovative subsurface ocean temperature sensor that is being deployed by commercial fishers to vastly increase our ocean observational data.
The Whakatōhea Moana Plan is in development, this marine spatial plan which documents Whakatōhea iwi interests and values for their coastal ocean space. This Plan is being consulted on and could become a template for other iwi.
We’re developing high-resolution models to better understand the oceans around New Zealand.
With the help from many organisations, we’ve quality checked and made available vital ocean data dating which will help make our models more accurate and support other New Zealand science endeavours.
We’re researching marine heatwaves and their causes, to help us predict them. Seven day marine heatwave forecasts are now available via the Moana Project website and we are starting to use machine learning to extend these out months in advance.
All of this work, and more that’s to come, will vastly improve understanding of coastal ocean circulation, connectivity of our kaimoana, and marine heatwaves to provide information that supports the seafood industry, science research efforts, iwi initiatives and how we manage our marine environments.
Congrats to everyone for their impressive work so far.
Moana Project hui attendees in Te Whanganui a Tara.