Impact
Sustained ocean observation is prohibitively expensive for many nations. Collaboration and integration with local stakeholders enables cost-effective ocean observation capacity development in many regions where it was previously inaccessible.
Shelf and coastal seas around the globe have been historically under-observed compared to the open ocean because the autonomous platforms traditionally utilized struggle to operate due to complex bathymetry and strong currents. These are the most dynamic ocean regions in the world with the highest ecosystem productivity, biodiversity, and value to maritime industries and coastal communities.
Team
COOPER VAN VRANKEN (US)
FOUNDER & CEO
The founder of both ODN and BDC draws inspiration from a diverse educational and experiential background including: fisheries science, oceanography, mechanical engineering, and commercial fishing. Cooper is the organizer and acting leader of FVON and an active participant in the broader global ocean observing community.
CARLES CASTRO MUNIAIN (ESP)
COFOUNDER & CTO
Equipped with a dual masters degree in industrial and electrical engineering specializing in automation and robotics, Carles handles the systems automation and data management processes that keep ODN’s data flowing seamlessly to ocean modelers and other end users. Based in Valencia, Spain he also directs European operations and business development.
JACK CARROLL (US)
OPERATIONS AND TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT
With an educational background in biology and environmental science, Jack spent several years working in the commercial fishing industry in southeast Alaska. He holds a National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) installer certification. He brings the knowledge and technical experience to handle vessel system installation and troubleshooting in the field.
STEVE WOLL (US)
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNMENT STRATEGY
Steve served for 21 years as a Meteorology-Oceanography Officer in the U.S. Navy, followed by a career in the meteorology private sector, working in the collection, procurement, and dissemination of weather observation data with the NOAA National Mesonet Program. At ODN he leads business development, product definition, and customer outreach, identifying and working with data users to understand their needs and how ODN data can help them accomplish their missions.
ANNA HOLLÆNDER (DK)
OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Anna is a MSc student in Ocean Engineering with a specialization in physical oceanography at the Technical University of Denmark. She is experienced in hydrographic data analysis and usage from the Institute of Marine Research in Norway, where she worked with both fishing vessel and research vessel data. At ODN Anna validates and assesses data impact in respect to modeled and satellite oceanographic data.
News & Media
UN Ocean Decade Endorsment
Ocean Data Network is leading the emerging global network of institutions conducting collaborative ocean observation efforts with fishing vessels by forming FVON. The goals of FVON are to elevate fishing vessels as a platform for ocean observation to complement existing observation networks by filling data gaps in shelf and coastal observations. Ultimately, FVON is working to become a key component of the ocean observing networks of the future and an accepted ocean data collection network under the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). FVON was recently endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade! Learn more.
Illuminating coastal seas: A new paradigm for ocean observing
By Christopher Cusack (EDF) and Cooper Van Vranken (Ocean Data Network). Learn more.
Delivering on ocean data with an ocean changemaker
A guest blog from Cooper Van Vranken, one of the three winners of the of the 2021 World Ocean Initiative Changemakers Challenge. Learn more.
Awards
Winner of the Ocean Data Challenge by the World Economic Forum
Our founder Cooper was a winner of the Economist Group World Ocean Initiative’s Ocean Changemakers Challenge
Alaska Sea Grant
ODN’s a key project partner managing data for an industry initiated electronic logbook program in the southeast Alaska salmon troll fishery. This ambitious program has captains collecting a wide range of biological, chemical, and physical data including catch composition, forage fish species distribution, subsurface temperature, salinity, and many other variables. The data is delivered to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game and researchers at the University of Alaska to aid in stock assessments and improve understanding of how environmental conditions are impacting the fishery. Learn more
Media
Partners & Support
Publications
August 2023: Van Vranken, C. H., Jakoboski, J., Carroll J. W., Cusack, C., Gorringe, P., Hirose, N., Manning, J. P., Martinelli, M., Penna, P., Pickering, M., Santos, A. M., Roughan, M., De Souza, J., & Moustahfid, H. (2023). Towards a global Fishing Vessel Ocean Observing Network (FVON): State of the art and future directions. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1176814
October 2020: Van Vranken, C., Vastenhoud, B. M. J., Manning, J. P., Plet-Hansen, K. S., Jakoboski, J., Gorringe, P., & Martinelli, M. (2020). Fishing Gear as a Data Collection Platform: Opportunities to Fill Spatial and Temporal Gaps in Operational Sub-Surface Observation Networks. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.485512