Antarctica is experiencing rapid and complex change, and it is critical to have a better understanding of these changes for the region’s ocean ecosystems [1]. The costs and logistical challenges to operate scientific research vessels prohibits the scaling of crucial science and discovery in the region. Yet, the tourism industry in Antarctica is growing rapidly, and collaboration between tourism companies and researchers provides important access to the region [2]. While researchers gain from free or discounted ship time, it also provides the travel companies with enrichment opportunities for their guests. Scientists have been conducting research aboard platforms of opportunity (POMs) like tourism or cargo ships for decades, studying oceanographic conditions as well as organisms from phytoplankton to marine mammals [3,4], with some of the earliest published research using data collected aboard cruise ships headed to Antarctica [5]. As the number of Antarctic tourism vessels has increased to over 70 boats, more research and citizen science projects are successfully expanding to take advantage of these POMs in Antarctica [6,7].

KOLOSSAL, an ocean exploration and conservation non-profit, developed a unique research partnership by collaborating with tourism company Intrepid Travel, underwater technology company SubC Imaging and research partner Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland (MI). KOLOSSAL’s mission is to collect first-of-its-kind deep sea video of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, as well as survey seafloor biodiversity of the region, and promote conservation. Known to inhabit deep Antarctic waters, the colossal squid is the largest invertebrate in the world, but its biology and behaviour are largely unknown [8]. Here we discuss opportunities, some challenges and make recommendations for conducting marine research on an Antarctic tourism vessel. To successfully conduct this research, the team at KOLOSSAL needed to acquire ship time, deep sea camera equipment, and research personnel. The first task was to assemble financing and imaging technologies, an effort that took three years to achieve through technology prizes, sponsors, and crowdfunding. Intrepid Travel joined as partners, lending their travel logistics expertise and donating berths aboard the MV Ocean Endeavour. SubC Imaging designed a new drop camera system and loaned their newest 4K Rayfin cameras. MI provided graduate students with expertise in operating SubC cameras in polar environments. Over the course of the 2022–2023 Antarctic summer season, four expeditions, 58 days at sea, and 36 survey locations were completed as a collaborative effort between all partners (Fig 1).

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Fig 1.

(A)Expedition map of sites sampled in Antarctica over the 2022–2023 season. Map created in R using ggOceanMaps with Natural Earth Data [9]. (B) Matthew Mulrennan deploying the SubC 4K Rayfin camera rig from the pilot door. (C) MV Ocean Endeavour expedition staff. (D) Benthos captured by the SubC camera; Giant volcano sponge and crinoids (left) reef assemblage including sea stars, anemones, fish and bryozoans (centre), a hunting “Death Star” on a rock (right).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000348.g001

The method employed in this research offers several opportunities for conducting more sustainable and efficient ocean research in remote regions like Antarctica. Notably, the collaboration with Intrepid Travel led to significant daily carbon emission savings and offsets by about 417kg of CO₂ per researcher [10]. By piggybacking on the vessels’ existing journeys, we minimized the environmental impact associated with a separate research vessel. Collaboration with an operator already established with the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) and permitted for Antarctic activities facilitated a more efficient acquisition of permits for an ‘expedition inside an expedition’. The financial benefits of free berths and using donated cameras led to expenses estimated at about 1/50th of an independent research cruise. Benefits for partners were key in sustaining this collaboration. With regards to the SubC prototyped camera system, these expeditions effectively served as field testing in one of the most extreme environments on the planet. For the travel companies, having scientists present to the 200 guests onboard enriched their cruise experience. Engaging with guests about deep sea marine life increased awareness of Antarctic ecosystems and fostered more support for research and conservation. The graduate students gained valuable field research experience and were able to visit Antarctica as a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, returning as advocates for these ecosystems.

While partnering with a tourism vessel created opportunities for the research project, there were still limitations to this method. The regular turnover of the expedition team and vessel crew made it difficult to establish an effective chain of communication. Establishing good communication channels is critical for the success of the research. Ultimately, the ship is operating to optimize guest experience and not scientific efforts. Therefore, logistics like site selection, time spent at a location, or the time of day when on station were generally chosen by cruise staff to provide the best guest experience. For example, this project needed to deploy the camera in deep water locations (> 500 m) while drifting at night. However, many of the best sites for tourists are in shallow, sheltered areas with impressive ice features and wildlife best seen during the day. In addition, cruise ship space was not structured for research activities. Thus, creative solutions were needed to deploy the camera while not interrupting guest activities. This resulted in using the pilot door for deployments and conducting research in a secure space (3m x 3m), next to a larger door where the passengers were loaded in and out of zodiacs. In addition, because passengers were being loaded next to the pilot door, the space was often crowded, and extra caution was needed to ensure guest and scientist safety. Despite these challenges, the opportunities provided by the partnership greatly outweighed the logistical challenges, and the flexibility of researchers along with staff and crew led to this project’s success.

This project demonstrates that science on POMs can be an effective tool for conducting research in remote regions. The team performed 36 camera deployments acquiring 62 hours of footage with exclusive wildlife observations in a region where 90% of the marine species are endemic and at risk. Reestablishing this project onboard the vessel would add important temporal and spatial data and would allow the tourism companies to build outreach initiatives around the science. The long-term success of research projects on tourism vessels relies on common goals for science, conservation, and outreach. The collaboration between tourism companies, technology, academia, and non-profit organizations allowed the team to perform science in Antarctica. Added outcomes from this mission included the development of new research questions, engagement with new groups of people, and most importantly, collectively deepening our understanding of Antarctic marine environments.