SDG 14 – Life Below Water , Mataora Wai

International collaborations

A substantial 68% of Massey University’s 144 SDG14 publications between 2020 and 2024 resulted from international collaborations (Scopus database extracted using SciVal in October 2025).

The most frequently cited papers focused on topics such as the ecological footprint of fisheries on dolphins, sharks, marine mammal conservation and the impact of oil spills on marine ecosystems.

In total, Massey’s SDG14 publications had more than 2,200 citations between 2020 and 2024.

Collaboration on the SDGs for more SDG14 statistics

Research published on climate impact on whales

Massey’s Cetacean Ecology Research Group contributed to an international study on how climate change will affect the distribution of great whales in Aotearoa New Zealand waters.

A southerly shift of suitable habitat is expected as the ocean warms.

Citizen scientists identify new fish species

Developed by a Massey PhD student, the Facebook group What's That Fish NZ? receives over 2,500 contributions from citizen scientists of sightings of target fish for their database. Eighteen species of fish, not previously recorded around Aotearoa New Zealand, were identified.

Professors recognised for contributions to sustainability

Professors Andy Shilton and Russell Death have been awarded the title of Professor Emeritus in recognition of their outstanding contributions to environmental sustainability.

• Professor Emeritus Andy Shilton is celebrated for his work in environmental engineering, with a strong focus on sustainable wastewater treatment systems and ecological design.
• Professor Emeritus Russell Death is recognised for his leadership in freshwater ecology and his long-standing advocacy for the protection and restoration of rivers and aquatic ecosystems in Aotearoa.

Massey graduate tackles marine plastic pollution

In 2023, a Massey journalism graduate with a marine biology background received an Asia New Zealand Foundation Scholarship for a 4-week internship in Jakarta. During her internship, she created web stories and social media content addressing the issue of marine plastic debris.

Grant funds research to save whales

Professor Karen Stockin and Dr Ramari Stewart from Te Kauika Tangaroa Charitable Trust were awarded a Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund grant in 2023. Their project focuses on integrating indigenous knowledge into whale-stranding response efforts and assessing its alignment with existing practices.

Research funding for marine ecosystems research

MBIE funding from Te Pūnaha Hihiko: Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund was received in 2022 to develop kaupapa Māori approaches to restoring marine ecosystems degraded due to land-use change and overfishing in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

MBIE Endeavour Funding of almost $1 million was awarded in 2022 to Professor Wendi Roe for research that aims to decrease the amount of Toxoplasma entering our waters, also preventing the deaths of the critically endangered Māui dolphin.

Restoring Whakakī Lake: integrating Māori knowledge and science

Massey University is a proud partner in a Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund project dedicated to restoring the ecosystem of Whakakī Lake. This research focuses on understanding cyanobacteria blooms in the lake and their impact on tuna (eels), combining Māori traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods to support effective and culturally informed environmental management.