Before heading to sea, the expedition team mobilized a variety of imaging systems that will help MBARI scientists and engineers observe and quantify tiny bits of marine snow.

FathomNet has partnered with LifeCLEF and FGVC13 to host a Kaggle challenge to tackle one of the biggest obstacles for applying computer vision to marine imagery. This data competition aims to engage students and early-career data scientists in the computer vision community to develop new approaches to advance AI for ocean exploration.

The Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS)—a research collaboration housed at MBARI—has published a new strategic and implementation plan for 2026–2036. The new plan outlines how CeNCOOS members will share high-quality data to support decision-making about our marine life, ecosystems, and resources.

The Webby Awards has named FathomVerse an Honoree in the AI Experiences and Applications Energy and Sustainability category. Presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, the 30th Annual Webby Awards recognize excellence on the internet.

New research led by the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science has found that nitrogen cycling in marine oxygen-deficient zones is far more dynamic than previously thought.

Last month, members of the CeNCOOS team led an in-person, hands-on training on the CalOOS Data Portal for students at California State University, Monterey Bay, connecting the next generation of marine scientists with powerful ocean observing tools.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has named MBARI Senior Scientist Kelly Benoit-Bird a 2025 Fellow, recognizing her distinguished contributions to the field of marine ecology, particularly for innovative development, application, and integration of acoustical techniques.

Scientists in MBARI’s Biological Oceanography Group contributed eDNA samples, data, and expertise to a new global marine biodiversity monitoring program led by Deutsche Bank, Germany’s SailGP team, the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance, and NatureMetrics that aims to inform future ocean conservation efforts.

With a new flagship research vessel joining our fleet, the opening of a new robotic technology lab, and the arrival of a new president and CEO, 2025 marked the start of an exciting chapter for MBARI. The 2025 MBARI Annual Report provides an immersive review of our scientific discoveries, technology innovations, and international collaborations over the past year.

Collaboration was key to the success of the Deep Sea 3D expedition and opened the door for exciting new discoveries about deep-sea coral communities.

Calmer winds and swells provided the all-clear for dives at Sur Ridge, so the team got to work surveying a large rock formation covered in corals.

At MBARI, scientists and engineers work side by side to advance ocean exploration. The CoMPAS Lab’s innovative mapping tech is helping biologists study deep-sea invertebrates in Monterey Bay.

MBARI’s flagship research vessel is the home away from home for scientists, engineers, and marine operations crew during the Deep Sea 3D expedition.

When the weather was unfavorable at Sur Ridge, the team returned to the sheltered waters of Monterey Bay to map two research sites teeming with sponges and corals.

CoMPAS Lab engineers have outfitted the MiniROV with advanced sensors and software to help the vehicle survey its surroundings and map complex seafloor terrain.

Before heading to sea, the Deep Sea 3D expedition team conducted a series of test dives with the MiniROV and the CoMPAS Lab’s Portable Mapping System.

Last week, more than 30 scientists and engineers from MBARI attended the Ocean Sciences Meeting 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. MBARI staff shared the institute’s latest developments in ocean science, technology, education, and communications with peers from around the world to help facilitate new global collaborations.

This week, MBARI President and CEO Antje Boetius participated in the Arctic Circle Rome Forum – Polar Dialogue: From Glaciers to Seas. She took part in panel discussions about international cooperation in research and infrastructure, from the UN Decade program Antarctica InSync to the upcoming Fifth International Polar Year in 2032–33.

This week, MBARI President and CEO Antje Boetius participated in the Monaco Polar Symposium, bringing her extensive experience in polar sciences to international discussions about the challenges facing polar environments and communities.

MBARI scientists and engineers have joined an expedition with MARUM aboard the German research vessel Sonne to study the seafloor offshore of Southern California. Using MBARI’s autonomous robots, the expedition team will map fluid seeps in the San Clemente Basin for further study with MARUM’s remotely operated vehicle.