Pacific fisheries science vessel

Why do we need a Fisheries Science Vessel for the Pacific?

The Pacific Region

  • Managing the sustainability of common marine resources is vital for the Pacific Island countries and territories that rely on them for key ecosystem services.
  • Pacific tuna fisheries are of global importance, delivering two-thirds of the world's tuna resources, and it is crucial to maintain the sustainability of regional stocks. Regional fisheries decision making would be greatly weakened without the time series of data provided by continuous scientific experiments conducted onboard a suitable and reliable research vessel. Previously used vessels are in the process of being decommissioned due to their age.
  • The largest oceanic region must play a major role in integrated ocean/ climate initiatives.
  • Satellite observations need to be complemented by in-situ scientific monitoring to understand the complexity of the planet's largest ecosystem and its response to global warming.
  • Properly designed and built for its environment and research goals, an adaptable modern sea-going platform will serve to benefit the Pacific people and the whole planet.

 

Adaptable, connected and clean

LOA: 43m
Range: >6,000 NM
Draft: <3.5m
Crew: 25
Adapted to the region's scale and geography
1
Efficient tuna pole and line fishing vessel
Support sustainable stock management through regional tagging programme
2
Efficient and safe pelagic fish capture
Enhance knowledge of tuna and associated species biology
3
Scientific laboratory spaces
Collect and analyse ocean ecosystem data
The Pacific Region

 

4
Capacity to operate mid-water trawl nets
Understand of the ocean food web and its responses to climate change
5
Capacity to collect essential physical oceanography parameters
Forecast changes in tuna ecosystems linked to climate variability
6
Scientific acoustic equipment associated with low radiated noise hull design
Understand the link between tuna fisheries and the ecosystem through seafloor mapping, seamount characterisation
7
Powerful hydraulic crane
Reduce reliance on regional port facilites through vessel operation and deployment autonomy.
8
Auxiliary boats
Diving surveys, coastal water surveys
9
Computer network and communication
Real-time sharing of research results, regional capacity building First-response capability for disaster relief
10
Efficient and low footprint vessel
Electric-diesel engines compatible with future energy upgrades
11
Removable 20' container
Customisable for specific research needs (Labs, diving) Cargo for disater relief

 

The Pacific research vessel will have the capacity to complete many missions

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Region, Partners and Collaborators

The Pacific Region