PENOBSCOT BAY — Sailors/filmmakers Teresa and Ben Carey are are partnering with the Ocean Foundation Bio-acoustician Michael Stocker, Nina Bednarsek and Swift Engineering Co. to create citizen science projects in which ocean-going vessels collect data to document the state of the world’s oceans.

Their project, Hello Ocean, launches this month in Penobscot Bay. It is a project of the nonprofit Ocean Foundation, which enlists recreational boaters as volunteer citizen scientists.

Ben and Teresa Carey are longtime cruising sailors, who have worked as deckhands, mates, and captains aboard vessels, including the Lewis R. French, the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, and other local boats.

“Of all the places I have sailed, I always love returning to Maine,” said Teresa, in a news release. “It is rugged, yet cozy, challenging and beautiful.”

Scientists rely on volunteers to collect data from unexplored and undocumented parts of the world’s oceans. Volunteer recreational boaters participate in citizen science studies to enrich their vacations or daily lives, and by aiding in real scientific research that could lead to better protection or management of natural resources.

“The media and research go hand-in-hand,” says Ben Carey. “Scientists who study the ocean need more ways to collect data. What better resource is there than recreational boaters? Our goal is to create videos and podcasts that will appeal to boaters and seaside vacationers to fuel their interest in ocean conservation and science. I’m confident we can find plenty of people who want to participate in our research projects.”

Teresa said: “We’re focusing on two of the named top research interests in ocean science today. They are critical topics, yet surprisingly there is still an incredible lack of data. Both of our studies are creating a baseline dataset; research like this has yet to be conducted.”

Ocean acidification is the continuous decrease in the pH of the ocean, caused by carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, they said. It is believed to have a range of harmful consequences that include coral bleaching, killing algae, and harming other animal life. Swift Engineering, a California-based engineering firm, is designing sensors to monitor ocean acidification for the Carey’s vessel Rocinante.

They are teaming up with biological oceanographer Bednarsek to do a baseline study of ocean acidification’s effects on biomass. They will also focus on ocean noise pollution bio-acoustician Stocker and software developer Lynn Scharf to create technology that will map the world’s ocean noise pollution.

Marine mammals are threatened globally by man-made noise pollution. Large vessels, naval testing, and offshore drilling and exploration produce loud sounds in the deep sea. It can have long-term consequences for the well being of marine mammals, potentially causing damage to the inner ears of whales and dolphins and disturbing behaviors crucial to their survival. The Hello Ocean software app will give volunteers the tools to monitor ocean noise in their area. It will then be synchronized with a open-sourced map for educators, policy makers, scientists, and interested people to view and download.

During a recent ocean passage, the Careys collected seawater samples, which they delivered via sailboat to Abby Borrows, a research scientist in Stonington. Borrows is studying the extent of micro-plastic in the ocean.

Most of her data collection comes from citizen scientist volunteers. Recent research shows that micro-plastic is present in every ocean and every body of water on the planet. The extent to which it pollutes oceans and waterways is a growing concern for ocean scientists since plastic can have severe environmental consequences as it carries toxic chemicals and can never break down.

Hello Ocean will notify all interested parties of progress toward the ultimate goal of getting volunteers the equipment and instruction they need to take part and make a difference. To find out more about the project, visit helloocean.org. To find out more about their film visit simplequestionmovie.com.