From curiosity to sustained exploration
It started with a simple question: What is happening beneath the water right there?
Off a beach, off a bridge, in a quiet harbor, in a busy channel… that question kept coming up. So we started building.
First one camera…
Our first drop was off Powder Point Bridge in Duxbury and revealed a murky world, but one still full of life. A world of snails and hermit crabs hugging the seafloor, Silversides in the hundreds darting and flickering as they caught food in the current, Horseshoe Crabs gliding along the bottom and the occasional Striped Bass gliding past in search of its next meal.
Our first drop off a beach - off Pocomo in Nantucket - revealed much clearer water with small Black Sea Bass investigating everything that happened in their domain, juvenile Sea Robins sifting through the sand, and schools of Menhaden in their thousands.
At that point we were hooked…
140+ Trips
600+ Recordings
3,500+ Hours Recorded
5,000+ Species Observations
Where we are now
Since then we have built out a suite of custom built cameras that allow us to do up to ten recordings each day, with an ability to capture 10+ hours per camera. We have built supporting systems and technologies to allow us to download and process those videos overnight allowing us to record day after day - up to two weeks for remote locations. We have done over 600 recordings across 140 days/trips - for a total of over 3,500 hours captured.
Our database allows us to capture each species we see in each video as well as interesting behaviors and map them to their exact location. Through the video we are also able to record and map the habitats seen in each location. To date we have over 5,000 species observations (one species seen at one location on one day).
Our website allows visitors to explore our results and our videos - sharing what we have learned and seen with the world. Our education pilots are starting to bring a greater awareness of the local waters to local students throughout the region.
Areas of Work
Exploration and observation generate data that improve our understanding of the underwater world. Sharing that knowledge inspires curiosity and learning, which can strengthen appreciation, stewardship, and conservation. The Harbors Video Project advances these goals directly and through partner relationships.