NES was proud to support the Cook Islands Ocean Monitoring Program’s Environmental Baseline Voyage aboard the research vessel Kaharoa II. Just to clear the waters—this voyage was all about ocean science, not seabed mining.
At the invitation of Climate Change Cook Islands, NES Nature Officer Kas Silk joined Tangimetua Paerau of Kōrero o te ‘Ōrau for a month at sea, travelling across our Marae Moana and helping with scientific operations around the clock.
The voyage covered 4,663 nautical miles, with a strong focus on the Northern Group. Scientists completed 30 CTD casts, some reaching almost 5,000 meters deep, collected 28 bongo-net samples, and towed a Continuous Plankton Recorder for approximately 3,000 nautical miles.
More than 700 water and biological samples were collected to help study nutrients, pigments, plankton, biomass, DNA, micro plastics and other ocean conditions. The team also mapped parts of Tema Reef and Suwarrow’s outer reef and deployed a coastal camera near Motu Manu.
Two SPOT wave buoys supplied by the Cook Islands Meteorological Service were also released into our ocean. They are now bobbing around Marae Moana and sending back information on waves and sea conditions.
The voyage provided valuable hands-on experience in scientific equipment, sample collection, processing and microscope work. It also strengthened collaboration between Cook Islands participants, the science team and the vessel crew.
NES thanks Climate Change Cook Islands, Earth Sciences New Zealand, the Kaharoa II crews and the chefs who kept everyone well fed during 24-hour operations.
The findings are still being analysed, and we look forward to learning what the samples reveal about the health of our ocean.
