In search of what is out there

The Far Out Ocean Research Collective has been surveying for whales and dolphins in the seas off Northland.

The offshore ocean may seem a flat featureless expanse, but underneath the surface there are interesting features, currents and water masses that make ideal habitats for a range of marine creatures.

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The Far Out Ocean Research Collective is a non-governmental organisation based in Paihia in the Bay of Islands.

Their goal is to survey the Northland offshore area to find out more about what is out there, where they are, and why they are there.

They are interested in marine megafauna - large marine creatures - and the seabird life that can be found offshore.

These types of offshore multi-day surveys are difficult to do. Travelling 20 - 50 nautical miles off the coast to observe and identify marine seabirds and creatures requires excellent weather conditions, a suitable vessel, and the right equipment and expertise.

This is why systematic surveying has not been done in this region before, and why we know quite a bit about New Zealand coastal or inshore marine species, but we lack data about those that live in this offshore environment.

For some species, the only information we have to date has come from strandings, rather than live sightings.

Since starting this work, the Far Out team has identified a wide range of marine life in this area.

Rarely-seen beaked whales, a previously unknown group of sperm whales, a juvenile whale shark and extremely rare dolphin species are just a few of the marine creatures encountered in this year's survey.

Alongside the visual surveys, the team also uses acoustic recordings to help them locate cetaceans that might be in the area.

A few species can be identified by their calls alone.

In the past few years, the scientists have collected incredible recordings of dolphins, false killer whales and pilot whales.

Their latest revelation is Northland sperm whale coda - a distinctive short patterned series of clicks, which sperm whales use to communicate with each other.

The Far Out team is planning further surveys and aims to build a map of this offshore area that integrates marine creature and seabird sightings, acoustic recordings and oceanographic data to give a detailed picture of what is out there.

Listen to the full episode to take a trip to the open ocean and dive deep into the acoustic world of sperm whales.

Far Out Ocean Research Collective

The Far Out Ocean Research Collective is a group of five marine scientists who set up a not-for-profit trust in 2017…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details