Building skills behind smarter ocean decisions
Skylight’s free certification course strengthens proficiency with the platform, data interpretation, and AI literacy for those working to protect our ocean.
In many contexts, technology is no longer the limiting factor in monitoring and managing activity at sea.
Satellite imagery now covers vast areas of the ocean. AI can detect vessels and highlight potentially unusual behavior in near real time.
But at Skylight, we’re well aware that technology does not make decisions. People do.
That’s why we’ve designed a free certification course to strengthen practitioners' ability to interpret, integrate, and act on multiple streams of information. The challenge today is two-fold. First, making sense of individual detections and understanding what the data is actually showing. Second, integrating different data sources to narrow uncertainty and determine whether a detection is credible, warrants closer scrutiny, or requires action. Better, faster decision-making depends on both.
Build real-world maritime skills. Sign up to get certified.
The course helps practitioners understand where AI adds value, such as saving analysts time, where extra review is essential, and how to cross-reference signals within a broader operational picture. It strengthens human judgment so users can validate alerts and make effective and informed decisions. The goal is simple: help you integrate AI and data into daily operations with clarity and confidence.
Built with input from Mar Azul Uruguayo, the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (CMBC), OceanMind, and EarthRanger, the course strengthens Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance skills across government agencies, researchers, analysts, and conservation practitioners.
In under seven hours, participants build practical skills they can apply immediately. The course is structured to move from foundational concepts to applied understanding, helping users connect how detections are generated, how multiple data sources interact, and how those insights support real-world decisions. It is designed to be focused, efficient, and directly relevant to day-to-day work.
Across nine focused modules, learners deepen MCS skills, strengthen data interpretation, and build AI literacy step by step. From vessel detection to fishing behavior analysis and risk assessment, each lesson reinforces how technology supports informed decision-making. Knowledge checks throughout ensure the material sticks. Upon completion, participants earn an official Skylight certification.
Participants are asked to complete the course within 30 days. The course is self-paced and currently only available in English.
The March certification cohort is now forming.
We are now taking enrollment requests for March. Register here to secure your spot and take the next step toward better maritime decision-making.
