Using ocean data collected by fleets of Wave Gliders, teams of coders will compete to create new ways to fight illegal fishing

SUNNYVALE, CA, APRIL 20, 2016 - Liquid Robotics®, the leader in long-duration unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), is proud to announce support for the U.S. State Departments 3rd annual Fishackathon 2016. Fishackathon started in 2014 in response to Secretary Kerrys Our Oceans conference. Opening on Earth Day, this event brings together volunteer coders, technologists, and scientists around the globe to help create new applications and tools to thwart the global epidemic of illegal and unregulated fishing.

In support of this event, Liquid Robotics is providing historical and real-time ocean data collected by the Wave Glider®, an unmanned surface vehicle. The Wave Glider collects and communicates ocean data without the need for fuel. Wave Gliders perform long-duration missions that fundamentally change ocean research and monitoring, including patrolling vast marine sanctuaries for illegal fishing.

The global problem of overfishing impacts one of the worlds primary food sources, economies, and the overall health of our ocean. With over 800M* people making a living through fisheries, this critical issue is demanding creative new approaches and technologies. Using unmanned, self-sustaining ocean robots to patrol the worlds oceans and communicate violations in real time is one of the innovations that will enable breakthroughs in the detection and capture of illegal fishing.

On Earth Day weekend, 43 host sites in 27 countries on 6 continents will participate to find a technological solution to their selected fisheries challenge. You can follow Fishackathon on social media at @fishackathon, @liquidrinc, and #codeforfish.


*Fishackathon 2016: Scaling Innovation to Protect Our Ocean, DIPNOTE, U.S. Department of State official blog.

About Liquid Robotics:
Liquid Robotics designs and manufactures Wave Gliders, the first wave and solar powered autonomous ocean robots. With our partners we address many of the planets greatest challenges, by transforming how to assess, monitor, and protect the ocean. We solve critical problems for defense, commercial, and science customers. Visit us at http://www.liquid-robotics.com to learn more.