Research Projects
Current Projects
- The Secchi Disk Study – a global citizen science project that collects data based on water clarity which indicates the presence of plankton in the water.
- Eye On Water – a global citizen science project collecting data on water colour for detection of changes in water quality.
Research Partners
University of Auckland
Dr Rochelle Constantine and her team at the Marine Mammal Ecology Group not only study marine mammals but also other megafauna including sharks and seabirds.
We have facilitated in data collection of their studies for the entirety of the company’s history which has led to a great ongoing working relationship. Studies of note that we have assisted with include the first ever abundance estimate of Bryde’s whales in the Hauraki Gulf.
You can view PDFs of the studies we have been involved with on the Marine Mammal Ecology Group website.
Massey University
Dr Karen Stockin and her team at the Cetacean Ecology Research Group (formerly known as the Coastal-Marine Research Group) also study a variety of marine life in the Hauraki Gulf and have been using the Dolphin Explorer as a platform of opportunity for many years. Their specific strengths are marine mammal biology and ecology.
Studies of note that we have assisted with include the first ever abundance estimate of common dolphins (Delphinus sp.) in the Hauraki Gulf.
The undergraduate Marine Ecology students also partake in an annual Marine Mammalogy field trip onboard.
You can view PDFs of the studies we have been involved with along with their other work can be found on their website.
AUT (Auckland University of Technology)
Dr Michael Lück and his team at the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute have been working with us for 10 years to establish the importance of education in marine tourism.
Other Research Partners
Auckland Whale and Dolphin Safari is proud to collaborate with the following research partners:
