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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sea-Bird Scientific, Sofar Ocean, University of Hawai’i at Hilo's MEGA Lab, and Aqualink Advance Real-Time Ocean Monitoring with Successful Bristlemouth Integration
Bellevue, WA - March 24, 2026 - In a significant step forward for marine research, Sea-Bird Scientific, Sofar Ocean, MEGA Lab, and Aqualink have announced the successful integration of a Sea-Bird Scientific sensor with the Bristlemouth open communications standard. This collaboration leverages the expertise of each organization to create a more accessible, scalable, and powerful tool for real-time ocean monitoring.
The integration effort, part of the Bristlemouth Pioneer project - an open standard for marine hardware - successfully enabled over-air data transmission of high-precision pH and CTD data from a Sea-Bird Scientific sensor to the Sofar Spotter, which the Sofar Spotter then transmits live via satellite. The resulting system was deployed off Keahole Point in Kona, Hawai’i, where it now streams continuous data from a depth of 24 meters. This freely available data provides invaluable insights for researchers, students, and conservationists worldwide. The real-time data from this Sofar buoy is updated hourly and can be viewed by anyone at https://aqualink.org/sites/1006.
Aqualink, in partnership with MEGA Lab at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo (UH Hilo), led the integration and deployment efforts, making live ocean data publicly accessible. The project combines one of Sea-Bird Scientific’s industry-leading integrated systems, with Sofar Ocean's Bristlemouth ecosystem, including a Spotter buoy and DevKit. The collaboration demonstrates how specialized hardware combined with open-source innovation can accelerate our understanding of the ocean.
The primary beneficiary of this data is MEGA Lab at UH Hilo, which develops technology to protect marine ecosystems. Dr. John HR Burns, founder of the 501(c)3 nonprofit, highlighted the project's importance: “The [Sea-Bird Scientific] sensor at the Aqualink buoy provides continuous measurements of conductivity, temperature, depth, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen at our long-term coastal monitoring site. The dataset will be used to support ongoing research on coral reef resilience, biogeochemistry, and coastal climate impacts, and will contribute to broader monitoring efforts in Hawai‘i that track changing ocean conditions over time.”
This project makes the code, decoder, and public data solution available free of charge, significantly lowering the barrier for researchers to adopt similar systems. The collaboration demonstrates the power of combining specialized hardware with open-source innovation to accelerate our understanding of the ocean.
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About Sea-Bird Scientific
Sea-Bird Scientific is a global leader in providing advanced instrumentation for oceanographic research and monitoring. The company's sensors and systems are used by scientists, governments, and industries worldwide to measure key physical and biogeochemical properties of the world's oceans.
About Sofar Ocean
Sofar Ocean is the leading ocean intelligence platform. They’ve built the world's largest real-time ocean network, turning billions of measurements into insights trusted by scientists, governments, and shipping fleets. Their technology makes the ocean more predictable and sustainable, helping customers save costs, cut emissions, and unlock insights that were once out of reach.
Learn more: https://www.sofarocean.com/
About Aqualink
Aqualink is a philanthropic project building an open platform for ocean monitoring that integrates underwater sensor data from researchers worldwide alongside satellite and survey data into public dashboards and an interactive map. The platform provides open data to empower scientific research and conservation efforts.
Learn more: https://aqualink.org/about
About MEGA Lab
MEGA Lab is a pioneering platform for collaborative scientific discovery. It connects researchers, educators, and innovators worldwide to accelerate breakthroughs in science and technology, and provides their findings with the people who may need it the most. With a mission to make cutting-edge research accessible and impactful, MEGA Lab empowers communities to tackle global challenges. From advancing education to driving innovation, it serves as a hub where ideas transform into solutions.
Learn more: https://themegalab.org/
Sea-Bird Scientific Media Contact:
Lindsey Biondo
Strategic Marketing & Partnerships Manager
LBiondo@seabird.com
