SeaKeepers Founders 2026 to Honour Yacht-Backed Ocean Research

An October gathering focused on ocean research

The International SeaKeepers Society is preparing for its annual Founders 2026 event on Thursday 29 October, with the programme focused on ocean research, conservation and the work of the scientists and vessel owners who make that activity possible. The organisation says this year's gathering will pay particular attention to marine wildlife and the part different species play in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems.

The event brings together people who support the society's research and education projects, including members of the superyacht community. It is also a fundraising occasion: tickets, tables and sponsorships are promoted as a means of financing programmes over the coming year. SeaKeepers has published the programme themes and honourees, but the event has not yet taken place and should not be described as completed.

The DISCOVERY Fleet receives recognition

SeaKeepers says the DISCOVERY Fleet, whose vessels have supported scientific programmes during the year, will be recognised at Founders 2026. The organisation works with private yacht owners and crews who can provide access to research locations that may otherwise be difficult or costly for scientists to reach. The relationship can include transport, observation time and the opportunity to carry specialists or equipment.

Making a yacht available for an expedition is not the same as treating it as a permanently fitted research ship. Scope depends on its itinerary, practical capability and the scientific project's requirements. A captain may have to plan permits, safe operations, fuel and guest or crew schedules alongside the research team. SeaKeepers presents the fleet model as a way to align privately operated vessels with credible environmental work.

Christina Lötter named SeaKeeper of the Year

Christina Lötter is listed by SeaKeepers as the 2026 SeaKeeper of the Year. The organisation's published profile describes more than four decades of international experience across fields that include yacht building, hospitality, events, retail communications and charitable work. Her career illustrates the breadth of experience represented among supporters of ocean research beyond the scientists who lead individual projects.

The recognition is part of the society's annual awards, not an assertion that Lötter personally led every expedition highlighted during 2026. SeaKeepers identifies her philanthropic and professional background as part of the award profile. For the yachting sector, such recognition draws attention to the network of owners, business leaders and supporters whose resources can help scientific programmes operate.

Dr Shelby Thomas receives NextGen recognition

SeaKeepers names Dr Shelby Thomas as its 2026 NextGen Awardee. Thomas has academic qualifications in marine ecology and fisheries and aquatic sciences and has worked on restoration efforts involving coral reefs, seagrass, oysters and other marine habitats. The event page describes her contributions to more than forty restoration initiatives, emphasising research that can inform work to repair damaged coastal ecosystems.

Thomas founded Ocean Rescue Alliance International to connect science with practical restoration and public engagement. According to her SeaKeepers profile, this work has helped deploy more than five hundred artificial reef structures and supported outplanting over thirty thousand corals. These are project figures attributed to the honouree's published biography; they should not be confused with results from a single SeaKeepers voyage.

Research collaboration in practice

The society describes an association with Thomas and Ocean Rescue Alliance International that began in July 2023 with a research dive assessing recently installed reef structures. Its event materials list subsequent monitoring visits addressing habitat condition, benthic growth and the presence of reef fish. Such repeated field observations can provide a more useful picture of restoration than relying on a single attractive underwater photograph.

SeaKeepers says its teams have worked with Thomas and her colleagues on further research and monitoring trips since the initial collaboration. The organisation's role includes helping facilitate vessel access and research operations, while the scientific partners carry responsibility for methodology and interpreting results. The distinction matters when describing how a private yacht contributes to marine conservation without implying that its owner independently conducts the scientific analysis.

Manta rays, sharks and reef monitoring

SeaKeepers is using the 2026 programme to highlight several examples of its marine-wildlife fieldwork, including manta ray surveys, shark research and monitoring coral reefs. These activities are presented on the official Founders page with photographs and descriptions of the expeditions. The aim is to show how vessels and volunteer participants can support scientists collecting observations about species and habitats.

Research activity can involve tracking animals, recording conditions and monitoring changes over time. The exact methods and permissions vary by project, and a yacht volunteering for one type of work should not assume it is equipped for another. The event's conservation focus gives owners a reason to explore appropriate partnerships while retaining the operational and safety responsibilities that come with running a vessel.

An artist's contribution to the programme

SeaKeepers identifies Sandra H. Camper as its Featured Artist of the Year for 2026. Her work draws on underwater encounters and the diversity of marine life, reflecting the event's effort to connect scientific interests with wider public engagement. The society describes her involvement through exhibitions and charitable initiatives that use art to encourage awareness of environmental issues.

The art programme complements the scientific elements without replacing them. Photographs, paintings and public events may attract people who are not familiar with the details of reef ecology or research logistics. By presenting art alongside real expeditions, SeaKeepers gives supporters several ways to learn about marine conservation. Any assessment of research outcomes, however, must still come from the relevant scientific work.

An upcoming event with practical purpose

SeaKeepers lists Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as the event destination and provides accommodation information for attendees, including a room block at the Ritz-Carlton. The originally stated group booking deadline has passed, so availability or promotional rates should not be assumed. Those considering attendance or sponsorship should use the organiser's current event page for up-to-date arrangements rather than rely on an older reservation notice.

The photograph accompanying this article comes from the SeaKeepers Founders 2026 website and depicts divers undertaking coral habitat work. It illustrates the research projects highlighted by the event; it does not claim to show the forthcoming gala itself. The central news is the scheduled 29 October recognition of contributors and the DISCOVERY Fleet, bringing the superyacht sector's support for field science into public view.