Abel
Tasman
Logbook

Keith speaks with Scarlet Red Magazine about the expedition in this podcast episode, where he shares: - What makes the Northwest Passage a unique and vital region. - Why the Arctic plays a crucial role in the future of our planet. - What the 16 Global Tipping Points are and their influence on Earth. - Observations of climate warming effects in the Arctic during the expedition. - How Arctic populations and wildlife are adapting - The scientific research conducted onboard - The importance of retraining ourselves in the science of climate change - Why tackling current challenges presents exciting opportunities for innovation and community engagement. - The role we can all play. And read the article here: https://www.scarletredmagazine.com/articles/after-115-days-at-sea-northway-passage-expedition-delivers-urgent-evidence-of-arctic-climate-change

Keith was interviewed by one of the expedition’s impact partners, Villars Institute on how we can transform humanity's relationship with our planet from one of extraction and linear consumption, to a mindset of hope, positive change and sustainable stewardship of our planet.

Just as they were nearing Homer, the crew of the Abel Tasman spotted killer whales! These curious individuals came right over to the boat to check it out.

In partnership with The Ocean Race, this expedition has sailed into one of the most remote and fragile regions of our planet – the Arctic. Together, we're on a journey to gather critical data on ocean health, climate change, microplastics, and the impacts affecting one of Earth's most delicate ecosystems. This video showcases how the onboard team has collected crucial samples and environmental data to help scientists better understand how our ocean is changing and what we can do to protect it.

As the crew neared the Northernmost tip of Alaska (Point Barrow), they were surrounded by thousands of scoter birds rafting and diving into the sea to catch fish. It was such a dense flock of birds that it was picked up on the Abel Tasman’s radar (causing initial confusion for the crew as to what it could be!). Video Credit: Ramon Gonçalves, MEDIA.etc

Keith spoke in a webinar hosted by Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), alongside Kat Bruce from NatureMetrics, Kimberly Mathisen from HUB Ocean, and employees from TNFD. The session explored how data is enhancing our understanding of marine ecosystems, and how innovative data collection methods and metrics are revolutionising the blue economy and informing corporate reporting in alignment with the TNFD framework. Keith spoke about the expedition, and explained how onboard, the crew are collecting eDNA samples using NatureMetrics kit, taking microplastic samples and recording ocean metrics with The Ocean Race, and capturing acoustic recordings. This data will help create a record of marine biodiversity in the Arctic, help scientists understand how this region is changing, and ultimately equip businesses with the data they need to make informed decisions. The ocean covers 70% of the planet’s surface, and supports the Blue Economy - which is worth US$1.5 trillion per year (the 7th largest economy in the world). It is expected to double by 2030, reaching US$3 trillion per year. Ocean data is crucial for decision-making around achieving sustainable use of the ocean, including understanding risk, undertaking mitigation, and addressing impacts on nature.

Whilst exploring the local area, the crew spotted a pod of walruses (with babies!) down by the rocks, and spent several hours watching them and taking photographs. Credit: Ramon Gonçalves, MEDIA.etc

Whilst exploring the glacier near Lake Inuutiq, the crew spotted a lone ringed seal, chilling in the surf. During their time around Pond Inlet, the crew have also seen some whales and a pod of narwhals! Credit: Cléo Campe, MEDIA.etc

Whilst navigating through the icebergs in Disko Bay, the crew spotted a humpback whale.

Just after crossing the Arctic Circle, the crew spotted a huge harem of seals that were heading out to hunt. They quickly pulled out the NatureMetrics eDNA kit to get a sample - which will hopefully pick up the seals!