ABOUT US

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THE COASTAL SUBSURFACE DATA GAP

The Fishing Vessel Ocean Observing Network (FVON) tackles the problem of subsurface coastal data gaps. While existing methods of data collection—including buoys, drones, and satellites—work well for monitoring the open ocean, they struggle to operate in coastal and shelf seas due to complex bathymetry and dynamic currents. These near-shore waters are critical for blue economy activities and for the 2.4 billion people around the world who live within 100 kilometers of the ocean. Filling these data gaps at scale is key for complementing the capabilities of other GOOS networks. 

FVON, the coastal complement to Argo: Existing fishing activities are perfectly situated to target data gaps. Case studies in New England (top) and New Zealand (bottom) demonstrate how FVON data (orange) fills in coastal gaps left by Argo (blue).

FISHING FOR DATA

Fishers and their fishing vessels are the ideal partners for data collection in shelf and coastal seas because they are already operating profiling platforms in these areas. With more than four million fishing vessels globally and most fishing already occurring in the relatively data-sparse nearshore areas of oceans, fishers can “fish” for data while conducting normal operations. As fishing gear deploys, sensors attached to the gear go along for the ride, collecting water column profiles while the gear catches fish. Such a design allows for cost-effective and scalable data collection. This, along with a fundamentally inclusive collaboration with fishers, is at the crux of FVON’s mission: to democratize ocean observation. 

GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

For more information on FVON programs, see the Partners page. 

STEERING COMMITTEE

MEET THE TEAM

Patrick

Patrick Gorringe

SMHI

… in Australia and teams in Europe by setting up, leading and motivating platform-oriented ocean observing Task Teams and linking their activities to global networks, programs and initiatives such as EMODnet, GOOS, the UN Ocean Decade and more.

Shinichiro Kida is an Associate Professor at the Research Institute for Applied Mechanics (RIAM), Kyushu University Japan. His work focuses on the dynamics and variability of coastal currents, particularly around Japan

Shinichiro Kida

RIAM

Fisheries biologist at CNR Ancona since 2006, Michela deals with the evaluation of fishery resources, development of innovative monitoring tools, data management, etc. Since 2010 she was responsible for monitoring programs of important fishery resources, such as Norway lobster in the Adriatic Sea. Since 2009 she has been involved in the use of oceanographic sensors on fishing vessels, and since 2013 she has been responsible for the Adriatic Fishery & Oceanography Observing Systems (AdriFOOS) infrastructure and related activities in EU projects. She is a founding member of the Fishing Vessel Ocean Observing Network

Michela Martinelli

CNR-IRBIM

… programs of important fishery resources, such as Norway lobster inthe Adriatic Sea. Since 2009 she has been involved in the use of oceanographic sensors on fishing vessels, and since 2013 she has been responsible for the Adriatic Fishery & Oceanography Observing Systems (AdriFOOS) infrastructure and related activities in EU projects. She is a founding member of the Fishing Vessel Ocean Observing Network. 

George is a Marine Resources Management Specialist at NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, Massachusetts where he works in the Cooperative Research Branch. His primary focus is managing the environmental Monitors on Lobster Traps and Large Trawlers (eMOLT) program, but he can also be found supporting other cooperative research projects both in the workshop and at sea. George earned his BS from the University of Connecticut, his MS from SUNY Plattsburgh, and his PhD from the University of Maine. Prior to joining NOAA, George worked as the staff scientist for a commercial fishing association and as an adjunct professor at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. 

George Maynard

NOAA - eMOLT

… the environmental Monitors on Lobster Traps and Large Trawlers (eMOLT) program, but he can also be found supporting other cooperative research projects both in the workshop and at sea. George earned his BS from the University of Connecticut, his MS from SUNY Plattsburgh, and his PhD from the University of Maine. Prior to joining NOAA, George worked as the staff scientist for a commercial fishing association and as an adjunct professor at Massachusetts Maritime Academy.  

Cooper is the founder and CEO of Ocean Data Network. He also serves on the CoastPredict UN Ocean Decade Program Executive Committee, helping to chart a course for coastal ocean observing and forecasting systems around the world. Cooper grew up on a small island in Maine and fished commercially both in the Maine lobster fishery as well as the salmon purse seine fishery in Prince William Sound. Cooper started his career as a mechanical design engineer, engineering robotic systems for aerospace manufacturing, before focusing on fisheries and getting an MSc in Fisheries Oceanography from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU-Aqua).

Cooper Van Vranken

ODN

…systems around the world. Cooper grew up on a small island in Maine and fished commercially both in the Maine lobster fishery as well as the salmon purse seine fishery in Prince William Sound. Cooper started his career as a mechanical design engineer, engineering robotic systems for aerospace manufacturing, before focusing on fisheries and getting an MSc in Fisheries Oceanography from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU-Aqua).

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