Matchmaking yachts with good causes

Yacht owner Tom Peterson has been part of The International SeaKeepers Society for many years. “I get personal satisfaction from knowing I’ve done something that’s made a difference,” he says. “And that’s important because there’s no financial reward – you’re donating your time, your fuel and your boat so it has to come down to the feeling of having contributed to something. And I do feel that.”

Tom’s mindset is typical of many other owners involved in the global non-profit, The International SeaKeepers Society, better known as SeaKeepers. Launched back in 1998, SeaKeepers started out when a group of yacht owners got together at the Monaco Yacht Show and voiced their concerns about ocean acidification and coral bleaching. With the help of some scientists from the University of Miami a device was constructed called the SeaKeeper 1000 and installed onto their superyachts. It was a novel way for owners to use their boats; they weren’t having to do anything differently, but they were collecting useful data as they travelled.

Twenty-six years later and SeaKeepers has evolved to serve multiple areas of programming by facilitating oceanographic research, conservation, and education through direct involvement with the yachting community.

Tony Gilbert, Chief Programs Officer, explains how much things have changed since those early days. “At some point in 2012, SeaKeepers expanded its scope by encouraging yacht owners and crews to host scientists on vital research missions aboard their vessels,” he explains. “Scientists don’t always have the funds to charter a vessel, so that’s why the DISCOVERY Yacht Programme was born as a part of the wider society.”

Matchmaking yachts and owners 

The DISCOVERY Yacht Programme matches scientists with yachts who are willing to take them out for free. “People were thinking, ‘I have this yacht, and this money but how can I help?” explains Tony. “The DISCOVERY Yacht Programme meant they were able to get fully involved instead of just writing a cheque.”

Tom Peterson first heard about the Programme at SeaKeepers’ annual event held in Fort Lauderdale. “What intrigued me was their mission statement,” he says. “It really hit home.” With marine funding getting cut back globally, the pain points often lie with the cost of transporting people and equipment – namely boats and fuel costs. “With the DISCOVERY Programme it was like, ‘hey if you have a boat and you’re going to this place where these researchers need to be, can you give them a lift?’, says Tom. “It’s really about boat owners who have a vested interest in maintaining quality water – and that’s what I enjoy.”

Over the years, Tom – a marine biology major back in the day, has hosted all sorts of scientists on board his yacht, Valkyrie. “We had a guy working on his PHD at UCLA who had developed a process called eDNA,” he recalls. “At the time it was very hush hush and we had to sign NDAs. The technology meant that he was able to take a sample of water and tell you with high probability what species of fish had been in the area over the last 24 hours. That technology is being used quite frequently now and we were one of the first to be involved which feels pretty great.”

Worldwide reach and results for everyone

There are multiple other projects running on board superyachts throughout the year via the DISCOVERY Yacht Program. Tony Gilbert was on board Calliope for a recent trip on the south-eastern corner of Cape Cod. “We were looking for the elusive mola mola fish,” he says. “Once we found them, we’d sample parasites and microbiomes that were living on them and tag them so we could track them over the next ten years.” The team expected to find two or three fish, but in the end, managed to tag nine. “It really was a team effort between scientists, local fisherman and the yacht owners that allowed us to use their vessel,” says Tony. 

In the last month alone, SeaKeepers has facilitated Scientist-Led Expeditions in the Adriatic Sea, Florida, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Bahamas. One such trip invited researchers from the Perry Institute for Marine Science on board a catamaran called Awatea to conduct research on coral disease in The Exumas. Meghyn Fountain, a research technician who took part, explained the benefits of having access to a yacht. “This boat had a compressor which meant we didn’t have to continuously go to a dive shop to refill our tanks which can be a nightmare logistically and takes time out of our day. We were able to do our dives smoothly and do all of our work in one area.” 

And of course, the benefits work both ways, as Thomas Peterson well knows. “You get personal satisfaction from knowing you’ve done something that’s made a difference – maybe not in and of itself, but you’ve certainly been a piece of the whole.” Tony Gilbert adds: “Owners wouldn’t have their boats unless they loved the environment it takes them to. There’s a love for it – and they know that if they don’t do their part to preserve it, there’s not going to be anything left for them to enjoy”.