First Eyes in the Ocean award winners announced

The Eyes in the Ocean (EITO) Project is a collaborative initiative between the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and Subsea7, reflecting our shared commitment to advancing deep‑ocean science through long‑term industry research partnership.

By combining NOC’s scientific expertise with Subsea7 and Seaway7’s global offshore operations, the project enables unprecedented access to remote deep‑sea environments that would otherwise be difficult and costly to study. EITO utilises existing remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technology onboard operational vessels, and marine life observations are captured during routine offshore activities before being uploaded to the EITO digital database.

With access to a global fleet of over 120 ROVs, this approach unlocks significant additional scientific value from existing operations. The database enables direct feedback between offshore crews and NOC scientists, improving understanding of species distribution and abundance in the deep sea and supporting long‑term research outcomes, and evidence‑based conservation and future scientific publications.

To celebrate the exceptional quality of submitted photography and footage, we have introduced a quarterly competition highlighting the most impactful imagery. Winners are recognised in three categories: Scientific Value, Expanding Observational Capacity, and Artificial Structure Interaction.

Q1 Winners

Scientific Value Award – Sleeper Shark

LOCATION | Western Australia
DEPTH | 911 m
SPECIES | Somniosus Antarcticus
OBSERVED BY | Seven Sisters