Ocean Citizen Science Project Directory

The Ocean Citizen Science Project Directory, created by Free Range Ocean, is a global, filterable guide connecting sailors—offshore, inshore, or onshore—with hands-on marine science projects. Whether you’re sampling plankton in the open ocean, monitoring nurdle pollution near a harbor, or contributing to coral reef research, there’s a project to match your skills, location, and interests.

Run by the sailing family behind S/V Freeranger, this initiative empowers boaters to collect data that informs ocean health, climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable marine practices. With millions of recreational vessels navigating areas researchers often can’t reach, sailors can play a vital role in conservation through citizen science.

Projects range from ghost net tracking in the Pacific to sea turtle monitoring and reef health checks in Hawaii and beyond. The Freeranger also serves as a testbed for research tools and as a platform for local early-career scientists and storytellers around the world.