Mid-Atlantic Coastal Monitoring · In Development

Real-Time Marine Mammal
Detection for Coastal
Observing Networks

OpenSea Data is developing a buoy-based passive acoustic monitoring system designed to detect and report marine mammal presence in real time across the Mid-Atlantic coastal zone.

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Our Mission

Closing a Critical Gap in Coastal Ocean Observing

OpenSea Data exists to close a critical gap in coastal ocean observing. Marine mammals in the Mid-Atlantic — including endangered North Atlantic right whales — share busy shipping lanes with vessel traffic, yet real-time monitoring of their presence remains limited.

We are building a modular, scalable buoy system that integrates passive acoustic hydrophones, environmental sensors, and AIS vessel tracking to detect marine mammals and deliver that data in real time to IOOS regional observing networks, researchers, and resource managers.

< 370
North Atlantic Right Whales Remaining
Mid-Atlantic
One of the world's busiest shipping corridors
Real-Time
Detection capability — currently lacking in the region

OpenSea Data is a nonprofit organization. Our mission is scientific and conservation-driven — to build open, accessible infrastructure that protects marine life and supports the research community.

The Problem We Are Solving

An Endangered Species, a Busy Corridor, and a Monitoring Gap

North Atlantic right whales number fewer than 370 individuals. Vessel strikes are one of the leading causes of their mortality. The Mid-Atlantic coastal zone — one of the busiest shipping corridors in the world — lacks a continuous, real-time acoustic monitoring presence capable of detecting marine mammals and alerting mariners and managers to their location.

Existing monitoring methods are intermittent, expensive, or limited in spatial coverage. Aerial and vessel surveys provide valuable snapshots but cannot deliver the continuous, real-time presence data that modern shipping traffic management and conservation response requires. OpenSea Data is building the infrastructure to change that.

The Technology

A Two-Node Buoy Architecture for the Mid-Atlantic

Our system is built around a two-node buoy architecture deployed in the Mid-Atlantic. Each buoy integrates a scientifically validated suite of instruments working together to detect, record, and transmit marine mammal acoustic data in near real time.

Ocean Sonics icListen Hydrophone

Broadband passive acoustic recorder for detecting and logging marine mammal vocalizations across the full relevant frequency spectrum.

PRIMARY SENSOR · PASSIVE ACOUSTIC

Nortek Signature 500 ADCP

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler measuring current velocity profiles and water column structure throughout the deployment area.

PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY

Sea-Bird MicroCAT CTD

High-accuracy recording of conductivity, temperature, and depth — essential context for acoustic propagation and species habitat assessment.

ENVIRONMENTAL SENSOR

AIS Receiver

Tracks nearby vessel traffic in real time, enabling co-analysis of vessel proximity with acoustic detection events for strike risk assessment.

VESSEL TRACKING · AIS

Data collected by each buoy node is transmitted via satellite and cellular links to a cloud-based processing pipeline, formatted for integration with IOOS regional data systems including MARACOOS. Detection events are logged, timestamped, and made available to partners and the public through open data channels.

BUOY NODE A Hydrophone AIS · CTD · ADCP BUOY NODE B Hydrophone AIS · CTD · ADCP SATELLITE / CELLULAR DATA TRANSMISSION cloud processing pipeline IOOS REGIONAL NETWORK MARACOOS · Researchers · Resource Managers Open Data Channels · Public Access CONCEPTUAL SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
Where We Are

Planning & Development Phase

OpenSea Data is currently in the planning and development phase. We have completed a full technical design for our two-node Mid-Atlantic deployment, specified our instrumentation suite, and are actively pursuing federal funding through the NOAA FY2026 Ocean Technology Transition Program.

We are building partnerships with leading academic institutions and IOOS Regional Associations to support field validation and data integration.

A note on transparency: We believe in being honest about where we are. OpenSea Data is an early-stage nonprofit. Our technology design is complete and our instrumentation suite is specified — but no buoys have been deployed yet. Everything on this site describes what we are building, not what is already operational.

Technical Design Complete

Full two-node buoy system architecture finalized, including sensor integration, power systems, and data transmission design.

Instrumentation Suite Specified

Scientific sensor selection complete: Ocean Sonics icListen, Nortek Signature 500, Sea-Bird MicroCAT CTD, and AIS receiver.

NOAA OTT Grant Application

Federal funding application in progress under the NOAA FY2026 Ocean Technology Transition Program.

Deadline: July 15, 2026

Academic & Institutional Partnerships

Actively developing partnerships with leading Mid-Atlantic research institutions and IOOS Regional Associations for field validation and data integration.

Field Deployment — Pending Funding

Initial two-node Mid-Atlantic deployment planned following successful grant award and partnership confirmation.

Our Team

The People Behind OpenSea Data

ED

Eric Dunn

Founder · OpenSea Data

Eric Dunn founded OpenSea Data with a focus on building practical, scalable technology solutions for marine conservation challenges. Based in Long Branch, New Jersey, Eric brings a background in project management and systems development to the challenge of deploying real-time ocean observing infrastructure in the Mid-Atlantic.

Scientific Advisors

In Development

We are actively building our scientific advisory team in partnership with leading Mid-Atlantic research institutions. If you are a researcher working in marine bioacoustics, ocean observing, or related fields and are interested in advising this project, we would welcome a conversation.

Partners and Affiliations

Building the Right Relationships

We are actively developing partnerships with leading Mid-Atlantic ocean observing institutions. The organizations listed below represent our target collaborators. These partnerships are in discussion — none are confirmed at this stage.

MARACOOS

Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System

IOOS Regional Association for the Mid-Atlantic, providing the data infrastructure backbone for our planned detection data integration.

Partnership in Discussion
RUCOOL — Rutgers University Center for Ocean Observing Leadership

Rutgers University Center for Ocean Observing Leadership

Leading ocean observing research group with extensive Mid-Atlantic field experience and expertise in autonomous ocean vehicle and buoy systems.

Partnership in Discussion
NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center

NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Federal science center with deep expertise in North Atlantic right whale acoustics, monitoring, and protected species management in the Mid-Atlantic.

Partnership in Discussion
Get In Touch

Let's Work Together

We are actively seeking research collaborators, institutional partners, and input from the scientific community. If OpenSea Data's mission aligns with your work, we would like to hear from you.

Partnership & Collaboration

For academic institutions, IOOS partners, and research organizations interested in data integration, field validation, or advisory roles.

Press & Media

For journalists and media covering ocean conservation, marine technology, and coastal environmental monitoring.

Grant & Funding Inquiries

For program officers, foundations, and funding organizations interested in supporting early-stage ocean observing infrastructure.

✉  info@openseadata.net  ·  Long Branch, New Jersey