Channelkeeper is the environmental watchdog for the Santa Barbara Channel, and we patrol the Santa Barbara Channel on our research vessel, the R/V Channelkeeper – a 31-foot JC lobster boat, which we purchased in 2008 thanks to generous donations from our community.
Having a boat and a regular presence on the water is a unique and critical tool we use to monitor water quality and the health of marine habitats, patrol the Santa Barbara Channel for pollution, and educate the public about the marine environment.
Here are just a few examples of ways we use the R/V Channelkeeper to keep watch for clean water on the Santa Barbara Channel:
- Cruise ship monitoring
- Seafari educational cruises
- Harmful algal bloom monitoring
- MPA monitoring
- Oil spill monitoring and response
- Beach clean-ups at the Channel Islands
- Community support (e.g., Audubon Christmas Bird Count, Friendship Paddle)