Oceanography On Deck Project is Making Waves

Perhaps you’ve caught a snippet on our social media about Oceanography On Deck (OOD) or maybe you know a captain or crew member with a temperature/depth sensor system attached to their fishing gear. Those 4x8” sensors are collecting a lot of information this season and we’re proud to report that the data is flowing and so are the conversations supporting this collaborative ocean data project.

Since early 2025, AMCC, along with partners Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers and Ocean Data Network (based in Maine), has been working on this bi-coastal research effort to collect continuous temperature data across multiple gear types and fisheries in the Bering Sea, helping address critical data gaps in the region’s marine ecosystem. Funded by the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB), this project contributes to the core of NPRB’s Science Plan, which highlights three scientific foundations that reflect our current understanding of large marine ecosystems, the processes that drive them, and how people both influence and are affected by ecosystem change.

Temperature/depth sensor systems have been installed on all 12 vessels scheduled for participation in year one of the project, including three from the crab fleet, three from the pelagic trawl fleet, three from the non-pelagic trawl fleet, and three from the freezer longline fleet. 

While fresh, Oceanography On Deck has a social media presence on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. These accounts provide weekly updates on project activities and share snapshots of data to help communicate the project's goals to a broader audience and raise awareness within the research community about this unique and emerging dataset. Be sure to follow Oceanography On Deck on your preferred platform.

Since January 2026, the project has published weekly "Tuesday Temps" posts, giving the OOD community an opportunity to track real-time changes in Bering Sea ocean temperatures.

The OOD team hopes to present its findings at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium in January 2027. We are also delighted to announce that the North Pacific Research Board has expanded our funding to include production of a documentary highlighting the hard work behind this ocean data collection project. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements regarding this exciting news.

One of AMCC's priorities is advancing actionable research and science, and this project is a clear example of that commitment. We believe that effective fisheries management depends on strong science that reflects ecosystem conditions and on-the-water realities. By focusing on research that improves understanding of bycatch, habitat impacts, and ecosystem-based fisheries management - our fishing communities have access to tools and resources that support better decision making and as a result, more bountiful harvests.