Call for Input: NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer 2027 Proposed Pacific Island Operating Areas
As part of our community-driven exploration model, NOAA Ocean Exploration invites you to view our proposed operational areas* for 2027 and submit recommendations for acoustic mapping and exploration operations on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer in the Pacific Islands.
These expeditions will advance collective knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the deep ocean waters in the Pacific Islands region, which have been identified as a priority for exploration and characterization. By responding to this call for input with mapping requests and dive target areas for NOAA Ocean Exploration to consider in the design of upcoming expeditions, you may be able to contribute to these priorities and advance your own scientific interests.
In 2027, NOAA Ocean Exploration is proposing potential operational areas off the Hawaiian Islands, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll, Howland and Baker Islands, American Samoa, Tonga, and the Cook Islands. These areas signify broad regions of interest that will be honed into detailed expedition plans, using data collected from this call for input, regional gap analyses, and priorities established by local communities within operational regions. Please note that while NOAA Ocean Exploration is collecting information about exploration interest in foreign waters, operations in 2027 are anticipated to primarily focus on U.S. waters. If any expeditions are proposed in areas under foreign state jurisdiction, they will be coordinated, as necessary, through the U.S. Department of State and in collaboration with the coastal state.
This year, we will have a rolling deadline for recommendations. Submissions received before November 30, 2026, will have the benefit of further investigation and possible incorporation into the 2027 field season. Submissions will still be accepted past that date, but may not be able to be addressed during 2027.
Please review our proposed operational areas and provide your recommendations through NOAA Ocean Exploration’s Survey123 call for input form. Survey123 is a web-based GIS tool powered by ArcGIS Online that allows users to submit their input by drawing on a map that shows our general operating areas, previous surveys, managed areas, and regional maritime boundaries. Users can also submit areas of interest in .zip folders containing geospatial files via a document upload area in the forms. For help developing and submitting your recommendations, review the instructions for using Survey123 as well as Okeanos Explorer‘s operational capabilities (pdf, 8.11 MB).
Following consideration of submissions, NOAA Ocean Exploration will design the 2027 field season with the identified priorities in mind.
If your request contains sensitive maritime heritage data or information, please email it directly to archaeology.oceanexploration@noaa.gov for review by NOAA Ocean Exploration’s marine archaeologist.
Please note that submission does not guarantee that NOAA Ocean Exploration will be able to act on your recommendations. All recommendations will be balanced with other NOAA Ocean Exploration and community priorities. Recommendations will be distributed across the expedition schedule and will be refined during collaborative planning conference calls.
NOAA Ocean Exploration encourages anyone who submits recommendations to join expeditions of interest as a member of the shore-based science team.
If you need help with your submission, please contact Logan Kline (logan.kline@noaa.gov).
We value your input and look forward to your participation in our upcoming expeditions.
* All proposed operational areas for 2027 are notional and are subject to change.