Last fall, we packed our gear, boarded four sport‑fishing boats out of Nantucket, and set out with a crew of scientists, captains, anglers, and other brands on a mission that looked a little different from your usual coastal trip.
We were there for The Skillie Project, a community-driven research effort led by The Billfish Foundation in partnership with The University of Maine to better understand and protect a remarkable migratory fish: the white marlin, affectionately known by locals as the “skillie.”
For roughly six weeks each year, white marlin pass through the Nantucket Shoals, a shallow, shifting stretch of sea that’s historically been rich with life. For a few weeks each year, these fish pass through the Nantucket Shoals. Scientists and anglers alike are asking: Where are they going? Why do their behaviors differ from typical white marlin? That’s where this project begins. Not with a catch, but with a question.
Tagging, Not Taking
Our goal was to tag white marlin with satellite trackers, devices that record depth, temperature, and light as the fish move through the ocean. This data streams back to scientists over time, helping them build a clearer picture of where these fish go, how they migrate, and how best to protect them.
It’s long-term work, and it’s deeply collaborative. This is a shared mission involving research institutions, boat captains with decades of water knowledge, passionate conservationists, and curious minds all working toward a better understanding of a species at risk.
Capturing the Story
To help share this moment and the mission behind it, we teamed up with Billfish Specialist Katie C. Sawyer, whose storytelling helped bring the mission and science to life. Together, we captured not just the action on the water, but the deeper questions being asked about fish populations, ocean health, and how coastal communities can protect what makes their waters special.
Why It Matters to Us
At Nomadix, we’ve always believed that the places we explore deserve our care and attention. Supporting efforts like The Skillie Project is part of that belief. It’s not just about fish. It’s about the bigger picture: ocean ecosystems, local knowledge, the future of coastal communities shaped by the water, and learning from the people who live this work every day—scientists, captains, anglers, and conservationists doing what they can to understand a species before it disappears from the map.
