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NOAA and California tech company release ‘saildrones’ to study ocean

A cheaper, more effective way to study fish and marine life far off the West Coast is now happening, thanks to scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and a Northern California tech company.

Saildrone, Inc., based in Alameda, is the creator behind a sailing vehicle by the same name.

The orange, cutting-edge sailing vehicle has 18 sensors that monitor the sea’s vital signs — wind, temperature, and salinity or salt content.

A flotilla of saildrones was released into the Arctic and Pacific, one week ago today, on June 26, 2018. Five of the ocean vehicles are making their way from Vancouver Island, Canada down to San Diego to gather essential information about fish populations.

“Saildrones are 20-feet long and 19-feet off the water,” said Richard Jenkins, CEO of Saildrone, Inc. “Weigh about 60 pounds and can operate kind of indefinitely. Wind propulsion pushes it along, solar charges the batteries and computer for communication.”

The partnership between NOAA and Saildrone, Inc. started in 2014. To date, the cutting-edge sailing vehicles have logged more than 50,000 miles on NOAA missions.

For more information, visit www.fisheries.noaa.gov/video/saildrones-cutting-edge-technology-ocean-research or https://www.saildrone.com.

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