Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, will lead a major Pacific Ocean research voyage from September to December 2026 to better understand how the ocean is changing and what this means for the Pacific.
Onboard Australia's 94-metre ocean research vessel (RV) Investigator, operated by CSIRO, Australian scientists and Pacific researchers will collect important ocean and atmosphere data as the vessel travels from Fiji to Antarctica.
The voyage will support Pacific efforts to respond to climate change, as Fiji prepares to host the pre-COP meeting from 5 to 8 October. Four early career Pacific researchers, including two from Fiji, will join the voyage through partnerships with the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO).
Ahead of the vessel's departure, CSIRO and the Australian High Commission hosted an engagement day in Lautoka, giving local media, science agencies and stakeholders an opportunity to tour RV Investigator and learn more about the voyage and Australia's marine science capabilities.
The voyage will run from 27 September to 16 December 2026. It will dock in Fiji and New Zealand and travel through the waters of Fiji, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Howland and Baker Islands, Tokelau, American Samoa, Niue and New Zealand, before continuing through the Southern Ocean to the Antarctic ice edge.
Quotes attributable to CSIRO voyage chief scientist Dr Bea Pena-Molino
"Our ocean and climate science will fill critical knowledge gaps by capturing ocean data for the region to better understand the influence of climate change.
"Using the latest technology, we will be able to compare data to understand how the ocean is both driving and responding to climate change. This includes how the ocean is absorbing extra heat and carbon in the atmosphere, and how it is impacting marine ecosystems.
"Long-term data will provide insights into how our marine environment is changing, so we can better protect the creatures that call the ocean home, from tiny viruses, bacteria and plankton to fish.
"The western Pacific Ocean is one of the most climate-sensitive parts of the globe, but we have limited ship-based observations. Working closely with Pacific partners will help build long-term scientific capability in the Pacific region and provide data to strengthen global monitoring efforts."
