In recent years novel genomic techniques such as qPCR, metagenomics and eDNA analysis have shown their utility as powerful tools for understanding the marine environment using filtered water samples. Unfortunately there is a considerable cost obtaining water samples from remote locations. In recent years CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere has been working on the development of automated samplers for in-situ filtration and preservation of marine water samples. We hope this technology will allow much broader scale temporal and spatial coverage in genomic studies without adding significantly to the cost of these projects. The sampling instruments currently being developed also hold promise for performing DNA based studies in hostile environments which includes sampling in polar regions during periods where the environmental conditions may make manual sampling prohibitively difficult.