Fishing for Ocean Data in the East Australian Current

Knowledge of the three-dimensional structure and variability of ocean temperature is critical for understanding ocean circulation, heat uptake, marine extremes, and the abundance and distribution of marine life. While satellite technology offers near-global coverage of surface ocean temperatures, subsurface observations represent a big gap in the coastal ocean record. Here we present the first results from FishSOOP (Fisheries Ships of Opportunity), Australia’s pilot program that uses commercial fishing gear to collect subsurface ocean data. Since early 2023, temperature and pressure data have been collected through the FishSOOP project across the Australian continental shelf and upper-slope waters. These new data provide insights into the development of marine heatwaves throughout the water column and new understanding of how the East Australian Current interacts with shelf water to produce nonuniform temperature changes. Comparison with the South East Australian Coastal Ocean Forecasting System (SEA-COFS) model indicates potential for improving forecasts of upper ocean heat content and subsurface temperatures by filling large gaps in observational data coverage. FishSOOP already provides a step change in the amount of open access temperature data available as well as ocean information critical to marine industries for operational decision-making, showing the value of using fishing vessels to observe challenging western boundary current regions.