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Volume 13 • Issue 2 eco environment coastal & offshore summer 2025 | rethinking offshore operations
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 summer 2025 | table of contents

opinion
8 Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Deserves Attention

features
10 The Future of Work

20 Examining the Foundations of Offshore Wind 8

28 A New Era of Maritime Wind Forecasting

49 Leveraging eDNA to Accelerate Energy Development

news
12 research

22 offshore industry

32 environmental policy 10
38 coastal

50 fisheries & aquaculture

in every issue
35 the water column

40 topside talks

56 events 20
58 eco directory

61 advertisers index

62 editorial calendar

28

on the cover:
Evolving applied marine science
methods and technologies are 49
bolstering offshore industry progress.

4 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

Sea the Difference
(ABOVE) Sampling Around an Offshore Platform, 70–110 m
CSA’s Gray O’Hara box corer rigged for sediment sampling at the stern
of a multi-purpose support vessel during an offshore survey campaign
around a production platform in the Mediterranean. Sampling activities
around the platform are designed programmatically using a stratified
random sampling pattern to position stations which allows for statistical
assessment of impacts in both directional and distance-based manners.

Find out how we can help manage your future

marine environmental footprint, today.

c s a oce a n .co m
 summer 2025
rethinking offshore
| about this issue
operations

Editorial Team
Ed Freeman
Managing Editor
Haley McQueen
Editor

Art Director
Keith Meinhold

Conferences Manager
Kadesha Dsilva

Advertising Sales
Lisa Chilik
+1 574-261-4215
[email protected]
The offshore sector is defined by a uncovered the effects of the Block Island
Mimi King
+44 77 7601 7564 broad range of industries, from energy Offshore Wind Farm on benthic and epi-
[email protected] development to international shipping, faunal communities to instruct long-term
each bound by unique and proven ways monitoring strategies that distinguish
Production Coordination of working in their respective marine turbine-induced effects from natural
Whitney Schwerin
environments. While certain tried-and- fluctuations.
Editorial Board true operating procedures and protocols
Carlos M. Duarte, Ph.D. have persisted over recent decades, many To remain competitive and adaptable,
Distinguished Professor at KAUST
approaches to exploring the offshore businesses are embracing innovation,
Mark Fonseca, Ph.D.
Chief Sciences Officer, domain—heavily influenced by an acceler- prioritizing efficiency, scalability, and
CSA Ocean Sciences ating technological capacity—are evolving digital transformation to meet the growing
Vinicius Lindoso to satisfy global resource demands and energy needs of the future. Fugro is one
Communications Officer UNESCO establish a sustainable Blue Economy. of the pioneering outfits investing in
skilled labor and integrating automated
Published by
Technology Systems Corporation In this edition of environment coastal and remote ways of working.
& offshore (eco) magazine—Rethinking
Subscriptions Offshore Operations—we sample some In this month’s “topside talks” Dr. Molly
ecomagazine.com/subscribe
of the latest technologies, methods, and James, a Marine Ecosystems Modeler
projects designed to improve operational for Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML),
 www.facebook.com/ecomagnews efficiencies, safety, and workforce condi- shares her insights on how modeling can
tions in offshore professions. guide the offshore decommissioning
x.com/ecoMagNews
process. A recently published research
 www.linkedin.com/company/eco-magazine Solely relying on marine weather forecasts paper by Dr. James and her colleagues
derived from satellite imaging could be suggests that artificial structures—such
a thing of the past. SailTimer Inc. uses as offshore oil & gas rigs and wind tur-
crowdsourced measurements from other bines—may play a significant ecological
recreational boats, vessels, and public role in the prosperity of biodiversity and
sources to optimize voyage plans and fish populations.
Environment Coastal & Offshore Magazine ISSN #
2327-3445 is published by Technology Systems inform real-time decision-making.
Corporation, 8502 SW Kansas Avenue, Stuart, Florida
34997 USA, Telephone +1 772-221-7720. Copyright In these pages, you will find features,
©2025 Technology Systems Corp. All rights to Robust and accurate environmental news, and exclusive editorial showcasing
editorial content are reserved. No article, photograph
or illustration may be reproduced in whole or part marine survey by CSA Ocean Sciences progress and advances by government,
without the written permission of the publisher.
Unless otherwise stated in writing by the contributor, Inc. (CSA) takes us below the surface of research, and industry in the applied
all images submitted to TSC may be used in other
promotional materials belonging to TSC without
offshore wind turbines. Contracted by the marine science space.
permission. Subscriptions are free to qualified Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
individuals or companies. For all others, call TSC for
subscription information. Printed in the USA. (BOEM), CSA subject matter experts Happy Reading!

6 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

Smart
Subsea
Solutions
- intelligent vehicles
- reliable communication
- accurate positioning
- modern sensor networks
- diver navigation systems
 guest | opinion

Marine Carbon
Dioxide Removal
Deserves Attention
By Brad Ack, CEO, Ocean Visions

The ocean has long served as a buffer to a changing climate, Accelerating Understanding
absorbing more than 90 percent of excess heat and roughly In collaboration with experts around the globe, Ocean Visions
a quarter of our carbon dioxide emissions. But this buffering developed and maintains strategic road maps to accelerate
has come at a high cost and underscores an inarguable our understanding of mCDR approaches. These road maps
truth: We cannot address ocean health without addressing lay out the scientific, technical, and policy priorities needed
the drivers of climate change, and we cannot tackle climate to move from theory to field trials and, ultimately—if proven
change without the help of the ocean. safe and effective—to potential deployment. Each road map
is a living tool, updated as new insights emerge in science,
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions has remained at the governance, and technology.
center of priorities to mitigate climate impacts. However,
emission reductions alone are no longer enough to fix the While our understanding of mCDR pathways is steadily
problem. Scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on increasing, and a number of field trials are underway, very real
Climate Change (IPCC) have repeatedly emphasized the uncertainties remain about ecological and social impacts and
need for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) to meet global climate our ability to ensure the durability of carbon sequestration.
targets. CDR encompasses a range of natural and engineered
approaches designed to remove CO2 from the atmosphere A Pathway Forward
and durably sequester it, playing a critical role in achieving To help expedite our understanding in the face of growing
net-zero emissions and mitigating climate change. climate realities, Ocean Visions has outlined a comprehensive
program to advance the science, governance, and technology
Introducing mCDR priorities needed to rigorously evaluate mCDR by 2030. We
Among the various CDR approaches, marine carbon dioxide also provide a large collection of mCDR tools and resources
removal (mCDR) offers significant potential. The opportunity for the ocean-climate community—including our new mCDR
for enhancing the power of the ocean to sequester and safely Ecosystem Database, which captures the breadth of actors,
store carbon dioxide is considerable. The ocean already holds activities, and relationships across this diverse and evolving
more carbon than any other part of Earth’s biosphere and field in order to facilitate collaboration.
its sheer scale means that any mCDR solutions proven to be
viable and safe have the potential to be scaled. A disrupted climate is no longer a looming threat—it is here
and now. The longer we delay the development of additional
Ocean alkalinity enhancement, macroalgae and microalgae tools to confront this reality, the more we risk crossing eco-
cultivation, blue carbon restoration, electrochemical CDR, logical thresholds. MCDR has the potential, along with other
artificial upwelling and downwelling, and deep-sea carbon tools, to help us avoid that future, but to do that, we need to
storage are all among the suite of mCDR approaches. Any or scale up our exploration of it now.
all of these strategies could potentially play a role in stabilizing
the climate, but first, they must be researched responsibly. To learn more, visit:
https://oceanvisions.org
Ocean Visions, a science-based, not-for-profit conservation
organization, is at the forefront of advancing mCDR research.
We collaborate with scientists, innovators, policymakers, and
communities to ensure that research happens in a rigorous,
transparent, and equitable way.

8 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

 Integrated
Solutions for
Offshore
Challenges

MARINE
OPERATIONS

PROJECT
MANAGEMENT

SUBSEA
NETWORKS

ENGINEERING
& PROTOTYPE

INSTALLATION &
COMMISSIONING

TEST &
EVALUATION

oceanspecialists.com
The Future of Work
By Mike Liddell, Future Workforce Director, Fugro

The global energy landscape is at a turning Bringing the Workforce Onshore between offshore assignments, remote
point, with governments racing to secure The technology sector does not lack skilled operations centers (ROCs), or offices.
resilient and scalable energy supplies in professionals, yet traditional offshore work
response to rising demand and environ- environments have long been considered This is exactly what we are now offering at
mental concerns. As the limitations of less attractive due to the demanding Fugro, with this shift not only benefiting pro-
traditional energy sources become increas- schedules and extended periods at sea. fessionals seeking a greater balance, but it
ingly apparent, the transition to alternative, Historically, recruiting specialists willing to also widens the talent pool, creating career
sustainable solutions is accelerating. At commit to offshore roles—sometimes up opportunities for individuals who may have
the same time, net-zero commitments, to 200 days a year—has been challenging. personal or medical constraints preventing
regulatory pressures, and growing public Today’s workforce seeks more than career them from working offshore.
demand for climate-conscious policies are development; they want roles that align with
driving an unprecedented surge in offshore personal well-being, flexibility, and work- Even for onshore teams, workforce expec-
wind development. life balance. tations are shifting. ROC-based rotations,
such as two weeks on and two weeks off,
This boom in demand—paired with The offshore wind sector’s rapid expansion allow employees to minimize commuting
advancements in automation, intelligent is amplifying these challenges, placing time, leading to improved work-life integra-
software solutions, and ongoing talent significant strain on recruitment efforts. tion. These predictable schedules help staff
shortages—is reshaping the offshore wind Companies must rethink their approach plan family commitments, vacations, and
sector. To remain competitive and adapt- to workforce retention, adapting to the personal time more effectively – making
able, businesses must embrace innovation, evolving expectations of professionals who offshore careers more attractive to a wider
prioritizing efficiency, scalability, and digital prioritize structured schedules, remote talent base.
transformation to meet the evolving energy working options, and meaningful career
needs of the future. trajectories. Automation Drives Safety
The integration of uncrewed surface
Perhaps the most significant shift is Adapting to Workforce Shifts vessels (USVs), like those that Fugro
occurring within the offshore workforce. To attract top-tier talent, organizations must has been deploying for several years on
As companies strive to attract the next reshape recruitment strategies, moving projects around the world, proves that
generation of talent, offshore roles are away from full-time offshore commitments remote operations can be conducted
increasingly moving onshore, creating new as the default model. Instead, technology both safely and efficiently from onshore
opportunities and transforming industry now enables hybrid working arrangements, facilities. Similar technologies are now
expectations. allowing employees to split their time being applied to conventional vessels,

10 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

 These innovations are essential for
adapting to workplace shifts while allowing
businesses to offer roles that will align with
the right talent priorities.

Balancing the Transition

The offshore wind sector is embracing
cutting-edge technology to address
workforce challenges while scaling
operations to meet rising demand. By
adopting automation and remote-first
strategies, companies can attract diverse
talent, improve efficiency, and reduce
operational risks.

However, this evolution must be inclusive,

ensuring both experienced professionals
(Images credit: Fugro) and new recruits feel integral to the indus-
try’s transformation. By fostering collabo-
ration, innovation, and workforce flexibility,
ensuring operations remain secure while given the constraints of the talent pool, offshore wind companies can successfully
innovation continues through onboard retaining expertise remains a cornerstone transition to hybrid models without losing
backup personnel. of long-term success. valuable expertise.

Beyond efficiency gains, automation is Enabling Offshore Operations The Future

vastly improving workforce safety. The Advancements in connectivity technology As digital advancements continue to
offshore sector is seeing fewer projects are transforming offshore operations, reshape the industry, companies must take
requiring personnel to take on hazardous allowing vessels to be increasingly proactive steps to ensure the offshore
work at sea, reducing accident risks while operated remotely from ROCs. These wind sector remains an attractive career
allowing crews better accommodations digital innovations facilitate safe, efficient, choice. Success depends on rethinking
and downtime. By decreasing the number and reliable offshore mission execution traditional workforce models, integrating
of onboard personnel needed, these while supporting new workforce models new technologies, and ensuring long-
innovations enhance working conditions and include: term sustainability in recruitment and
and improve employee well-being. talent retention.
High-bandwidth solutions that
Retaining Skilled Workers optimize mission control and enable By embracing these changes strategi-
While fresh talent is necessary to meet real-time monitoring of connectivity cally, offshore wind companies will be
workforce demands, organizations must performance well-positioned to thrive in an era of rapid
also ensure they retain experienced expansion, securing both the best talent
professionals. Open communication and Remote messaging protocols, and the operational resilience necessary
collaboration are essential—not just for ensuring reliable transmission of control for long-term success.
maintaining industry knowledge but for messages between onshore and
ensuring that all employees feel valued as offshore operations To find out more, visit:
part of this transformation. www.fugro.com
Automation and robotics, reducing the
With the creation of new roles and per- manual and repetitive activities at the
sonalized career paths, offshore positions offshore work site
will adapt, and opportunities within ROCs
will expand—opening doors to technical Ship-to-shore file transfers, sup-
career trajectories that strengthen the porting efficient data communication
overall workforce in the sector. However, without compromising performance.

ecomagazine.com summer 2025 eco | 11

news | research ecomagazine.com/news/research

Teledyne Valeport Introduces Innovative Self-Calibrating pH Sensor

The new Teledyne Valeport pH, developed in collaboration with environments, making it suitable for a wide range of applica-
ANB Sensors, introduces a cutting-edge, self-calibrating solution tions, including: fixed site monitoring, buoys and frames, ROVs,
for robust, reliable pH measurements in ocean monitoring. This AUVs, and ASVs.
innovative sensor redefines how pH is measured over extended
periods of time, offering a powerful alternative to traditional glass Designed with practicality in mind, the Teledyne Valeport pH
electrode technology. sensor features Valeport’s signature titanium housing and mea-
sures 204 mm in length with a diameter of 47 mm. It operates on
Traditionally, pH measurements have used glass electrode 9-28 V DC power with a consumption of <32 mA @12 V DC and
technology. While highly accurate, this method requires frequent weighs less than 1 kg in air.
instrument calibration to prevent reference electrode drift, result-
ing in lengthy sensor downtime. Glass electrodes are also more
fragile and require storage in very specific conditions.

Unlike conventional pH sensors, the new Teledyne Valeport pH

leverages Teledyne Valeport’s respected engineering expertise
and ANB’s patented calibration-free technology to create a
leading pH sensor. This advanced sensor is self-calibrating, pre-
venting instrument downtime, reducing calibration-related costs,
and significantly extending deployment periods. The sensor is
also highly durable and easy to store, making it a resilient and
superior alternative to traditional pH sensors.

Engineered for versatility, the sensor is rated to depths of up

to 1,250 meters and delivers exceptional accuracy of ±0.1 pH.
Its rugged titanium housing ensures reliability in harsh marine The new pH sensor is rated to 1,250 meters. (Image credit: Teledyne Valeport)

Red Algae Use Colors for Inter-Species Communication

Some red algae exhibit structural color that “The structural color of red and brown algae-eating fish. Such a repellant is more
gives their growth tips a blue hue and the algae living in shallow water has been effective when combined with a warning
rest of their bodies, including their fruiting explained to protect the photosynthetic color, such as the blue hue at the algae’s
structures, a white hue. Moreover, since pigments or to optimize photosynthe- growth tips. And where these structures
the color-producing structures are located sis. However, little is known about the are white, around where the organism’s
together with anti-herbivory chemicals, structural color seen in deep water fruiting structures are located, they may
the Kobe University discovery is the first species,” explained Kawai. “The inside of act as a camouflage of their original red
to suggest that red algae use colors for the structure that causes the coloration color against grazers using sight to find
inter-species communication. contains a substance that is highly reac- their food.”
tive and may act as a feeding repellent to
The team published its findings in the
European Journal of Phycology. They
discovered that a certain kind of cells
of the red algae, called the “gland cells,”
contain bodies of tightly packed micro-
spheres of a light-reflecting material. In the
growth tips of the red alga Asparagopsis
taxiformis, these microspheres are all
of the same size, which allows light of a
single blue color to be reflected. As the
gland cells mature, the microspheres lose
their uniform size, which causes light of
all colors to be reflected, resulting in a
The inside of the structure that causes the coloration contains a substance that is highly reactive and
whitish hue. may act as a feeding repellent to algae-eating fish. Such a repellant is more effective when combined with
a warning color, such as the blue hue at the algae’s growth tips. (Image credit: H. Kawai and T. Motomura)

12 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

news | research ecomagazine.com/news/research

Unexpected Ecosystem Found Deep Below Red Sea Coral Reef

Scientists from King Abdullah University of
KAUST and NCW scientists exploring
Science and Technology (KAUST) and the the Farasan Bank. (Image credit:
National Center for Wildlife (NCW) report National Center for Wildlife)
in PNAS NEXUS an unusual ecosystem
below the third largest coral reef system in
the world and the biggest in the Red Sea.
Found in Difat Farasan, otherwise known
as the Farasan Bank and located near the
border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen,
deep waters were inhabited by corals, fish,
and other animals not expected to survive
in conditions of such low oxygen and
high acidity.

Several of the creatures showed unex-

pected coping strategies for the extreme
environment. Fish swam slower, and corals "The ability for these animals to live in marine exploration of deeper layers of
were healthy in conditions that normally warm, oxygen-depleted zones suggests tropical coastal areas, as they may hold
prevent the calcification of their skeletons. they have an unusual ability to reduce how unexpected ecosystems,” said KAUST
Calcification is necessary for coral growth much oxygen they use to sustain life. This Research Scientist Dr. Shannon Klein, who
and survival. discovery highlights the need for greater led the study.

Knight Optical Adds Ocean Optics Range of Spectrometers

As the first new product launch of 2025, Knight Optical has added
Ocean Optics Spectrometers to its lineup. This addition presents
customers of the high-precision brand with full-spectrum options
and bolsters Knight Optical’s position as a one-stop shop for
optical needs. The six new spectrometer categories include
High-Resolution Spectrometers, High-Sensitivity Spectrometers,
Near-Infrared Spectrometers, Raman Spectrometers, Versatile
Spectrometers, and Microspectrometers.

High-resolution spectrometers are a superior choice for scenarios

where exact wavelength identification is required. Offered in three
ranges—HR2, HR4, and HR6—they are suitable for a diverse set
of fields. The QE Pro high-sensitivity spectrometer is small but
mighty, which is ideal for implementations that call for compact
elements. Available in UV-VIS, NIR—and extended-range variants
with slit width alternatives in 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 µm.

The new product launch includes six new spectrometer

Aimed for scenarios operating in the near-infrared (NIR) band, categories. (Image credit: Knight Optical)
the NIR Spectrometer range is broken down into three ranges,
comprising the NIRQuest+1.7, NIRQuest+2.2, and NIRQuest+2.5. (645–1085 nm) models, they're true high performers in a variety
The QE Pro Raman is engineered for high-precision roles like of functions.
investigating inorganic materials at 532 nm and observing
chemical reactions. With a long-standing customer base in disciplines such as
electronics, optoelectronics, defense, aerospace, energy, and
The Versatile model affords users accurate measurements manufacturing, the most recent additions to the company's
across diverse uses. Available in two ranges, the SR2 and SR4 catalog build on this foundation, providing further optical solu-
have specific roles. Microspectrometers really make an impact tions to a growing variety of domains—particularly in this case,
and are notably popular for OEM gadgets and inline control agriculture, medical, research, environmental monitoring, and the
systems. Offered in UV (185–650 nm), VIS (350–810 nm), and NIR industrial/semiconductor sectors.

ecomagazine.com summer 2025 eco | 13

news | research ecomagazine.com/news/research

Scientists Explore Underwater Volcanoes in Greece

Scientists from the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) During the expedition, scientists investigated both Santorini and
have led an international team on a groundbreaking expedition in Kolumbo, looking at different types of hydrothermal venting, from
and around Santorini, Greece, to enhance our ability to forecast seeps that form underwater lakes of carbon dioxide to bubbly
and understand the hazards posed by Earth’s most explosive venting at temperatures up to and exceeding 200ºC.
volcanic eruptions.
By looking at the diversity of hydrothermal venting, the team
Hundreds of the most dangerous volcanoes on earth are found in aims to understand the full range of fluid flow styles and the role
the ocean, but almost none are monitored, making the hazards for they could play in future volcanic activity, not just in Santorini and
nearby coastal communities and critical infrastructure difficult to Kolumbo but also around the world.
forecast. In the ocean, the explosivity of eruptions is complicated
by interactions with seawater and fluids that circulate through
volcanoes, making them even more unpredictable.

Using advanced underwater robots, including the NOC remotely

operated vehicle (ROV) Isis, world-leading scientists and engi-
neers have studied how circulating fluids interact with magma
deep beneath the Earth's surface. By mapping how fluid pathways
connect to magma chambers and how these systems respond
during volcanic events, they aim to revolutionize the understand-
ing of how fluid circulation can influence the strength and hazard NOC
of volcanic eruptions.

Sonardyne Integrates -4H-JENA Sensor to Deliver

Real-Time Ocean Acidification Data
Leading underwater technology manu-
facturer Sonardyne International Ltd has
integrated a CONTROS HydroC dissolved
CO2 sensor from -4H-JENA engineer-
ing into its Origin 600 ADCP (Acoustic
Doppler Current Profiler), unlocking new
capabilities for marine research into ocean
acidification. The combined solution
enables precise, real-time monitoring of
dissolved carbon dioxide levels alongside
detailed current profiling, providing critical
insights into the impacts of rising CO2
concentrations on marine ecosystems and -4H-JENA
biodiversity.
E-Mux multiplexer, which supports up to CO2 data was fused with the Origin 600’s
The CONTROS HydroC dissolved CO2 four external sensors simultaneously and ADCP measurements using Sonardyne’s
sensor from -4H-JENA engineering extends power supply capability for longer Edge computing environment, creating
is designed specifically for accurate deployments. an integrated dataset combining current
and reliable measurement of dissolved velocity, direction, and dissolved CO2
carbon dioxide in marine environments. In a recent deployment for a Sonardyne levels into an NMEA-style format.
Such sensors are essential tools for customer project, the integrated system
understanding ocean acidification, a demonstrated its effectiveness. The These data strings were acoustically
pressing environmental concern driven by CONTROS HydroC sensor, preconfigured transmitted to the surface every five
increasing atmospheric CO2 levels. The using dedicated -4H-JENA engineering minutes via the Origin 600’s built-in
HydroC sensor integrates seamlessly with software to produce measurements at acoustic modem. From there, data was
Sonardyne’s Origin 600 through either defined intervals, was cabled directly sent to a cloud-based system, allowing
direct connection to the ADCP’s external to the Origin 600, which powered the marine scientists to access real-time
sensor port or via the versatile Origin sensor and logged its data. The logged updates remotely.

14 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

news | research ecomagazine.com/news/research

Impacts of Mixed Microplastics on Marine Life

Due to the wide range of ways in which by A. tonsa while 0.00004–0.0038 mm hotspots, and a 100% mortality rate at
microplastics can enter the natural (0.4–3.8 μm) microplastics can adhere to concentrations between 0.4 and 0.6
environment, microplastic pollution is the exterior and appendages of certain mg per liter.
extremely diverse in terms of material copepod species.
make-up, size, shape, chemical composi- Given that mortality is an uncommon end-
tion, color and state of degradation. This The aim of the experiments was to reveal point in microplastic studies, with micro-
diversity causes challenges not only for whether acute and chronic exposure to plastic effects typically being associated
marine life but also for scientific studies. a blend of microplastics poses lethal with sublethal harm, this study suggests
or sublethal risks to a globally relevant that the tri-polymer blend is substantially
To help address these challenges in moni- marine species. more toxic than a single polymer exposure.
toring and experimentation, facilitate meth-
odological harmonization, and promote With endpoints such as adult survival,
comparative analysis between studies, a algal ingestion rates, egg production, egg
team of scientists from the UK and Norway size, larval development ratio, and juvenile
adapted existing experimental methods survival, this research would support the
to conduct full and partial life-cycle, development of risk assessments and
mixed-microplastic toxicity tests on the pollution thresholds.
adult and juvenile stages of the ecological-
ly-important copepod Acartia tonsa. The experiment resulted in a 50% mortality
rate when individuals were exposed to a
Prior studies have observed that tri-polymer concentration of 0.182 mg per
0.006–0.032 millimeters (mm, 6–31 μm) liter, comparable with high environmental Acartia tonsa. (Image credit: Dmitry Kulakov)
microplastics can be readily ingested concentrations found in microplastic

BREAK UP WITH
COMPLEXITY.
A simplified water quality
monitoring solution awaits.

ecomagazine.com summer 2025 eco | 15

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Ocean Frontier Institute to Lead SCALE MRV Joint Innovation Project

Marine-based removal of atmospheric data analysis, numerical modeling and deploy scalable MRV solutions. OFI, led
carbon dioxide has the potential to safely sensitivity analysis, and field testing. by Dalhousie University, has partnered
and responsibly capture gigatons of with philanthropic and industry leaders
carbon dioxide, helping achieve global Collaboration between academia and from Oceankind, atdepth, Nortek, Ocean
net-zero goals. However, for marine industry is essential to ensure the Ocean Robotics, Pro-Oceanus, and RBR—
carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) to work credibility and accountability of mCDR who provide expertise and contributions
effectively on a scale large enough to efforts, advance ocean technology, and to support the SCALE MRV Project.
have a significant impact on climate
change, the sector requires robust,
credible, and scalable MRV solutions.

Understanding the critical nature of

this, the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) is
leading the SCALE MRV Joint Innovation
Project to test, demonstrate, and advance
scalable MRV technology for mCDR.

This collaborative research project will

help enable the future of mCDR growth
beyond pilot and regional test sites by
integrating key innovations, including
uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs),
advanced sensor integration, AI-enhance USV from Open Ocean Robotics. (Image credit: Open Ocean Robotics)

Thriving Antarctic Ecosystems Found in the Wake of Detached Iceberg

An international team on board Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V sheet. The ice sheet has been shrinking and losing mass over the
Falkor (too) working in the Bellingshausen Sea rapidly pivoted their last few decades due to climate change.
research plans to study an area that was, until last month, covered
by ice. On January 13, 2025, an iceberg the size of Chicago, In addition to collecting biological and geological samples, the
named A-84, broke away from the George VI Ice Shelf, one of the science team deployed autonomous underwater vehicles called
massive floating glaciers attached to the Antarctic Peninsula ice gliders to study the impacts of glacial meltwater on the physical
sheet. The team reached the newly exposed seafloor on January and chemical properties of the region.
25 and became the first to investigate an area that had never
before been accessible to humans.

Using Schmidt Ocean Institute’s remotely operated vehicle, ROV

SuBastian, the team observed the deep seafloor for eight days
and found flourishing ecosystems at depths as great as 1,300
meters. Their observations include large corals and sponges
supporting an array of animal life, including icefish, giant sea
spiders, and octopus. The discovery offers new insights into how
ecosystems function beneath floating sections of the Antarc-
tic ice sheet.

Little is known about what dwells beneath Antarctica’s floating ice

shelves. The team was surprised by the significant biomass and
biodiversity of the ecosystems and suspected they had discov-
ered several new species.

The newly exposed Antarctic seafloor also allowed the interna-

tional team, with scientists from Portugal, the United Kingdom,
Chile, Germany, Norway, New Zealand, and the United States, to ROV SuBastian is deployed for a dive near the Bellingshausen Sea
off Antarctica. (Image credit: Alex Ingle, Schmidt Ocean Institute)
gather critical data on the past behavior of the larger Antarctic ice

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WHOI LOC-NESS Carbon Dioxide Removal Project Receives EPA Permit

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) announced that pulls carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the ocean
that the LOC-NESS Project, a research project focused on trans- and de-acidifies surface waters in the process. The EPA permit
parently evaluating the effectiveness and environmental impact authorizes the project to slowly add up to about 17,000 gallons
of a proposed carbon dioxide removal approach called ocean of alkalinity, in this case, highly purified sodium hydroxide, which
alkalinity enhancement (OAE), has been granted a permit by the is widely used to make drinking water less acidic. Models and
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). laboratory experiments have shown that the alkaline solution will
dilute in about 12 seconds and reach a pH of 9, which is lower
The permit was issued after an extensive review process that than the pH of widely available drinking water.
spanned more than a year, including two public comment periods
totaling 75 days. The EPA determined that the small-scale project
“demonstrates scientific rigor” and is “not expected to signifi-
cantly affect human health, the marine environment, or other uses
of the ocean.” The decision also comes after WHOI conducted
a simulation of the research at a 10-million-liter open-air US
Navy facility in New Jersey. WHOI will now move forward with the
small-scale, highly monitored field trial in the Gulf of Maine this
upcoming summer.

This research builds on permitted carbon removal work around

the country, including projects in Long Island, North Carolina, and
Washington. Throughout the permit process, the EPA’s consul-
tations with federal agencies, including NOAA Fisheries and the
US Fish and Wildlife Service, found that there is minimal potential
environmental impact.

Ocean alkalinity enhancement is a carbon dioxide removal Adam Subhas

technique that works by enhancing a naturally occurring process

ASL Successfully Completes Initial Tidal Currents

Study in Newfoundland and Labrador
ASL Environmental Sciences Inc. has
announced the successful completion of
an initial multi-week study to measure tidal
currents in collaboration with the Nunat-
siavut Government and Oceans North. This
initiative aligns with the Nunatsiavut Energy
Security Plan, which aims to explore clean,
renewable energy solutions for coastal
communities and reduce dependence on
diesel-generated electricity.

Current transect surveys were initially

carried out with Acoustic Doppler Current
ADCP deployment. (Image credit: ASL)
Profilers (ADCPs) over the broader study
area. ADCPs were then deployed on moor- which involves the observational study of insights for assessing tidal energy poten-
ings at three strategic locations within the tidal currents to capture the full annual tidal tial, addressing operational challenges,
Rigolet Narrows waterway and recovered cycle. The second phase deployment was and determining optimal placements for
in September 2024. completed in the fall and is scheduled for potential future in-water tidal turbines.
recovery in the summer of 2025.
The data from this initial phase was used A community consultation will take
to inform the suitable site selection for The processed tidal current datasets place during Phase 2 recovery to review
a longer Phase 2 measurement period, from Phases 1 and 2 will provide valuable the results.

ecomagazine.com summer 2025 eco | 17

news | research ecomagazine.com/news/research

Solid Carbon Receives Funding for Ocean-Based Carbon Removal

The University of Victoria (UVic)
announced the award of $24 million
over six years through the Government
of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research
Fund (NFRF) to advance the Solid Carbon
research project—one of the most
promising ocean-based carbon dioxide
removal (CDR) initiatives of the modern era
to combat the climate crisis.

The Solid Carbon: The Ocean’s Rock-solid

Sociotechnical Climate Solution was
among six initiatives awarded funding
under the NFRF’s Transformation stream, Ocean basalt off the west coast of Vancouver Island. (Image credit: Ocean Networks Canada)
which supports large-scale Canadian-led
interdisciplinary research with the potential floor and reacts with CO2 to mineralize most recently funded by the UVic hosted
to realize real and lasting change for major over short periods of time. and led Pacific Institute for Climate
challenges. Solutions.
An area of sea-floor basalt 200 kilometers
Ocean basalt has a unique capacity to off the west coast of Vancouver Island, The next steps under the NFRF-funded
address current increasing emission levels British Columbia, has been extensively project include ongoing research, public
by permanently and safely storing carbon studied by the Solid Carbon team through engagement, including consultation with
dioxide (CO2) in the sub-seafloor as rock. previous eight years of feasibility studies, coastal and Indigenous communities, and
Basalt is found all over the world’s ocean laboratory experiments, and modeling, a small-scale demonstration project.

392 instruments
146 pages
48 companies
6 categories
6 showcases
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buyers’ guide

Free access to the

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Buyers’ Guide:
2024-2025

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buyers’ guide manufacturers: list your instrument
in the buyers’ guide

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news | research ecomagazine.com/news/research

Limited Potential for Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal in German Seas

Avoiding emissions is the primary goal on the path to climate At the end of the multi-year selection process, five methods of
neutrality. However, with the need to offset hard-to-avoid CO2 CO2 removal remained that could potentially be implemented in
emissions in the future by removing CO2 from the atmosphere, the German North Sea and Baltic waters. Five further approaches
ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and storage would require deployment in international waters or cooperation
methods are attracting increasing attention. with other coastal states.

But what opportunities does Germany have to utilize its marine The research team is, therefore, working systematically to develop
areas for this purpose? This question has been addressed methods and processes that provide a realistic picture of how
in a new study, in which researchers have, for the first time, feasible marine CDR techniques actually are and what their conse-
attempted to assess the feasibility of ocean-based CDR and quences might be for both people and ecosystems.
storage in German waters, taking into account local marine
conditions as well as where the required materials, infrastruc-
ture, and energy for such large-scale operations would have
to come from.

The team reviewed current scientific literature and incorporated

findings from their own research as part of the CDRmare DAM
research mission. For each method, they assessed factors
such as the amount of water, materials, energy, land or sea area
required, possible by-products and waste streams, necessary
infrastructure and transport routes required, operating costs,
Release of a wave pump: In nutrient-poor areas of the ocean,
and what is currently known about potential environmental and artificial upwelling could increase the upward transport of nutrient-
societal impacts. rich deep water. (Image credit: Michael Sswat, GEOMAR)

Seatrec Wins Exclusive License from Sea-Bird Scientific

Seatrec, an underwater drone company,
and Sea-Bird Scientific, a leading provider
of oceanographic sensors and instrumen-
tation, announced an exclusive licensing
agreement that Seatrec will manufacture
Sea-Bird Scientific’s Navis floats for Argo,
an international program to monitor the
global ocean.

“Our mission is to monitor the ocean on a

global scale,” explained Yi Chao, Ph.D., CEO
and Founder of Seatrec. “This agreement
with Sea-Bird makes Seatrec a key pro-
vider of autonomous profiling floats to the
international Argo program, especially with
Seatrec
biogeochemical (BGC) sensors to monitor
ocean ecosystems and health.”
Seatrec, a dual-use deep tech startup, is opening new possibilities for power-in-
Under the terms of the agreement, Seatrec the leader in the temperature-powered tensive sensors such as passive acoustic
will receive exclusive rights to manufacture infiniTE™ float. hydrophones for soundscape monitoring,
Sea-Bird Scientific’s Navis float product addressing critical challenges in ocean
line. This strategic partnership is expected Powered by a patented technology that science and defense applications.
to combine the strong sensor expertise at harvests energy from ocean temperature
Sea-Bird Scientific and the innovative float differences, the infiniTE float can increase Seatrec expects to take purchase orders
platform at Seatrec to provide continuous ocean data collection by up to 40 times of Navis floats in early 2026 and begin
support to the international Argo Program (reducing the Argo float sampling interval rolling out the fully integrated Navis
and open new market opportunities that of 10 days to every six hours) compared floats with customer-requested sensors
benefit both companies. to traditional battery-powered floats, by late 2026.

ecomagazine.com summer 2025 eco | 19

Examining the
Foundations of
Offshore Wind
By Mark Fonseca, Ph.D., Chief Sciences Officer, CSA Ocean Sciences Inc.

Offshore wind energy is in its early stages the five wind turbines. The study’s design In-the-Field Ops
in the United States, and consequently, was informed by both previous studies Sampling occurred at three turbines (T1, T3,
there are few empirical studies to inform at the BIWF but was revised to better T5) and in three control areas located over
the potential for any environmental understand any existence of changes in 250 meters from the turbines. Five dis-
impacts. Europe, in particular, has estab- the benthic communities surrounding the tance-based strata were established around
lished large offshore wind farms, which structures. each turbine: foundation footprint, very near
have been studied extensively. In those field (<30 m), near field (30–49 m), intermedi-
European studies, offshore wind farms This four-year study ate field (50–69 m), and far-field (70–90 m).
have been shown to alter local marine
highlights the need
environments, especially by introducing Benthic infauna and sediments were
hard substrates that promote colonization for robust, long -term collected using vessel- and diver-based
and accumulation of biogenic debris from monitoring strategies grab samplers. Epifauna on the turbine
various marine organisms. Most of those to distinguish turbine- structures themselves were collected as
effects were found to be localized and scrape samples, and divers collected video
induced effects from
proximal to the wind turbine structures transects along the vertical extent of the
themselves. Until very recently, the Block natural fluctuations. turbine legs. Sediments were analyzed for
Island Wind Farm (BIWF), with its five particle size, total organic matter (TOM), and
relatively small turbine structures, was one The research and subsequent scientific total organic carbon (TOC). Benthic infauna
of the only opportunities for examining the paper, "Effects of the Block Island Wind and epifauna species were identified to
conformance of European findings in US Farm on Benthic and Epifaunal Commu- the lowest practical taxonomic level, and
waters and beginning to understand any nities" were published in the Journal of community metrics (diversity, richness,
potential ecological changes triggered by Coastal Research in November 2024 with evenness) were calculated.
the ongoing expansion of the US offshore study co-authors McMahon A., Erickson R.,
wind industry. Tiggelaaar J., and Graham B. The primary Investigation Findings
goals of the study were twofold: one, to As seen in some European studies, the
In 2020, CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. (CSA) detect, measure, and monitor alterations most notable changes in sediment particle
was contracted by the Bureau of Ocean to seafloor sediment composition, faunal size occurred in the immediate footprint of
Energy Management’s (BOEM) Opportunity abundance, diversity, and community turbine foundations. Sediments surrounding
for Real-time Development Environmen- structure at varying distances from the turbine T1 (in deeper water) had the highest
tal Observations (RODEO) program to turbines and to determine the spatial and gravel content, while T3 and T5 were
conduct the fourth and final year of an temporal extent of these effects and, two, sand dominated. With increasing distance
ongoing study of the ecological impacts to also monitor the faunal communities from turbines, gravel content generally
associated with the operation of BIWF. on the turbine structures themselves for decreased, and sand content increased,
These studies focused on benthic and epi- changes in abundance and composition but these trends did not extend beyond
faunal communities surrounding three of both among turbines and over time. approximately 90 meters from the turbines.

20 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

 climax communities forming on or around
turbine structures. This dynamic nature
is perhaps driven by natural fluctuations,
hydrodynamic forces, and short life spans
of dominant taxa. The turbines provided
habitat for structure-oriented species,
including mussels and fish, like the artificial
reef effect recorded in European offshore
wind farms and other offshore energy
structures.

The Block Island Wind Farm has induced

clear, but highly localized, changes to
seabed sediments and faunal compo-
sition at turbine foundations. Beyond
these immediate areas, the physical and
biological environment remains largely
unchanged, with natural variability and
disturbance appearing to dominate
Block Island Wind Farm study map. (Image credit: CSA) community dynamics. This four-year study
highlights the need for robust, long-term
TOM and TOC levels were generally similar to complete the picture for the four-year monitoring strategies to distinguish tur-
between turbine and control areas, with program, it was found that the number of bine-induced effects from natural fluctua-
minor, statistically significant differences unique infauna taxa increased by about tions, especially as offshore wind devel-
in some strata. Importantly, no consistent 28%, suggesting either natural variability or opment expands in US waters. The highly
evidence was found for progressive potential long-term enrichment. Significant experienced marine ecology scientists at
organic enrichment of sediments with dis- changes in faunal composition and abun- CSA were pleased to have the opportunity
tance away from the turbines, aside from dance were also generally restricted to the to contribute to the continuation of build-
accumulations of biofouling sloughing at immediate vicinity of turbine foundations. ing an objective basis of information to
the base of foundations. No evidence was found for a progressive, inform assessments of impacts and risks
distance-dependent effect radiating to the marine environment as the offshore
Across all faunal samples taken, 28,025 outward from turbines. energy framework evolves.
individuals from 216 taxa were identified,
of which Annelida (segmented worms) The BIWF turbines caused measurable To find out more, visit:
dominated at 84%, followed by Arthropoda changes in sediment composition and www.csaocean.com
at 8%, and Mollusca at 7%. The invasive faunal communities, but these effects
carpet tunicate (Didemnum vexillum) was were highly localized—primarily within the
not present in Year 4, although its pres- immediate foundation footprint and not
ence was noted in the Year 3 report. Mod- extending far into the surrounding seabed.
erate species diversity and evenness were Both benthic and epifaunal communities
observed across all turbines and strata. exhibited high temporal and spatial
Integrating findings from previous studies variability, with no evidence of stable,

Images from video transects showing varying epifauna growth among turbine structures. (Image credit: CSA)

ecomagazine.com summer 2025 eco | 21

news | offshore industry ecomagazine.com/news/industr y

SeaTrac and JASCO Collaborate on Marine Mammal Monitoring

A landmark project supported by the Innovative Solutions
Canada (ISC) “Real-Time Marine Mammal Monitoring Service
via Uncrewed Surface Vehicle” program has successfully
demonstrated a novel and effective method for real-time marine
mammal monitoring.

In a collaborative effort, JASCO Applied Sciences and SeaTrac

Systems deployed an advanced Passive Acoustic Monitoring
(PAM) system aboard SeaTrac’s SP-48 uncrewed surface vehicle
(USV). Equipped with JASCO’s acoustic technology, a collapsible
directional array, and a heave-compensating winch, the system
successfully detected several endangered North Atlantic Right
Whales during trials conducted off the coasts of Massachusetts
SeaTrac
and Rhode Island.

Traditional PAM systems rely on towed arrays, which require Between December 14, 2024, and April 7, 2025, four field trials
continuous vehicle movement and limit deployment duration. were conducted in various sea states and locations, including
This new innovative approach replaces the towed array with Marblehead, MA, Point Judith, RI, and Cape Cod Bay, MA.
a dipping, collapsible array that supports “sprint and drift”
operations, enabling the USV to collect data while stationary. These tests confirmed the system’s ability to operate reliably
This method significantly reduces energy consumption, allowing and autonomously in challenging conditions while consistently
for extended deployments and broader coverage. delivering high-quality acoustic data.

TDI-Brooks Conducts Series of 2DUHR Geophysical Surveys

TDI-Brooks recently secured a contract Namibia, which includes 20-meter JPCs and second quarters. In 2024 the GYRE
with Compass Survey Limited to conduct and 40-meter CPT-Stingers. Following this, underwent a shipyard period in Las Palmas,
a series of 2D Ultra High-Resolution they will undertake a shallow water deep during which its Kongsberg’s Multibeam
(2DUHR) seismic site surveys and pipeline push CPT project with their Manta-200. Echosounder (MBES) was upgraded from
route assessments for SPDC offshore These projects are expected to conclude an EM-302 to an EM-304 MKII. The new
Nigeria. These projects involved the by early March, after which the NAUTILUS EM-304 MKII is capable of high-resolution
acquisition of conventional geophysical will be available for additional assignments seabed mapping from 10 meters to more
data and high-resolution seismic imaging in West Africa. than 5,000 meters. The vessel then com-
to assess potential hazards, ensure safe pleted a seep-hunting project in Suriname
well site clearances, and optimize pipeline The R/V GYRE is presently engaged in a prior to transiting to Las Palmas.
route planning. range of environmental and geotechnical
projects in Northwest Africa during the first
To execute this mission, TDI-Brooks
deployed its state-of-the-art survey
vessel, R/V PROTEUS, to Nigerian waters.
The primary objective of the project was
to identify potential drilling hazards and
risks along the proposed pipeline route,
ensuring safe and efficient offshore devel-
opment while minimizing environmental
and operational risks.

TDI-Brooks is presently operating three

vessels in West and Southwest Africa,
engaged in various projects for leading
International Oil Companies (IOCs). Their
75-meter DP-II vessel, R/V NAUTILUS,
is currently involved in a deepwater R/V PROTEUS is expected to continue working in Nigeria through most of the 1Q/3Q
geotechnical project off the coast of on various analog and 2D HR survey projects. (Image credit: TDI-Brooks)

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news | offshore industry ecomagazine.com/news/industr y

MacArtney Introduces Powerful LUXUS Compact IP Camera

MacArtney has launched the LUXUS compact design is perfect for space-con-
Compact IP camera, the company’s latest strained applications, and its flexibility
innovation in underwater imaging technol- makes it an ideal choice for a broad range
ogy. Small, robust, and easy to integrate, it of users, including divers, civil engineers,
is designed to meet the diverse needs of and operators of ROVs and mounted
professionals across various industries. templates," said Ron Voerman, Managing
Director with MacArtney Benelux.
The new LUXUS camera introduces IP
capabilities, enabling direct network The increasingly streamlined design of
connection for remote viewing and underwater technology solutions demands
management. This feature enhances ver- advancements in instrumentation, Compact yet powerful, the new LUXUS camera
offers IP capabilities and easy integration,
satility, simplifies integration into various equipment, and systems development. enhancing performance in underwater
systems, and improves usability in diverse A primary focus during the develop- environments. (Image credit: MacArtney)
underwater applications. A 12-24 VDC ment of the new camera was creating a
supply powers the camera and consumes compact housing without compromising stands out with its smaller size and IP
only 3.5 W, making it energy-efficient for performance, which MacArtney's skilled feature, offering enhanced integration
prolonged use. engineering team achieved with innovative capabilities and improved performance.
design techniques. The camera features a 1/2.8" Progressive
"We are proud to introduce the LUXUS Scan SONY STARVIS CMOS sensor,
Compact IP camera, developed to meet Compared to previous models in the providing a resolution of 1920x1080 at
the diverse needs of our customers. Its LUXUS range, the new Compact IP camera 25fps (2mp).

Fugro and Spoor Develop AI Bird-Monitoring Solution

Fugro and Spoor, a software company that helps renewable ship will streamline bird monitoring at wind farms and support
energy projects reduce their environmental impact, have the development of offshore projects.”
signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop a
new bird-monitoring solution for offshore renewable energy
projects. This innovative system will not only help protect
bird populations but also supports the growth of renewable
energy by making environmental assessments more affordable,
cleaner, and safer.

The solution uses video cameras installed on Fugro’s SEA-

WATCH® Wind Lidar and other metocean buoys to record bird
activity at wind farm locations. Spoor’s advanced computer
vision and AI software then analyzes these recordings to quickly
and accurately identify bird species.

Traditional bird monitoring methods require good weather and

aircraft or vessel surveys, which are costly, have a high carbon
footprint, and pose safety risks to field staff. Fugro and Spoor’s
system overcomes these challenges by using buoy-mounted
cameras that capture high-quality video year-round, even in
harsh sea conditions. This approach provides a more reliable
and cost-effective way to conduct legally required environmen-
tal impact assessments for offshore wind farms.

Jørn Erik Norangshol, Fugro’s Regional Service Line Director,

Metocean Science for Europe and Africa, said: “We’re excited to
be unlocking insights by connecting Spoor’s advanced com-
puter vision software with our world-leading SEAWATCH buoy
technology to create a reliable bird-monitoring platform that can
Fugro and Spoor
withstand tough offshore conditions. This innovative partner-

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news | offshore industry ecomagazine.com/news/industr y

Ocean Aero to Continuously Monitor the Port of Gulfport

The Port of Gulfport will implement
continuous autonomous subsea surveil-
lance. Using Ocean Aero’s state-of-the-art
technology, the Triton AUSV, they will begin
running ongoing scans using a variety of
subsea payloads, including bathymetry,
side-scan sonar, and magnetometers to
produce high-resolution comparative data-
sets for real-time change detection. The
initiative is designed to detect irregularities
in both port traffic and infrastructure,
a feature that Port CEO and Executive
Director Jon Nass says has the potential to
Ocean Aero
save the port millions.

Triton’s advanced monitoring will also play Port to monitor underwater assets with the ing these subtle shifts early on through
a crucial role in post-hurricane recovery, same vigilance and care as those above patterns found in the data, we can provide
identifying debris and potential threats water," said Nass. Gulfport with an unparalleled level of situa-
to port infrastructure in the aftermath tional awareness, supporting proactive port
of severe weather events. Ensuring the A key aspect of the initiative, according to maintenance and providing our students
channel and harbor are clear for ship traffic Kelly Lucas, Vice President for Research with real-world data analysis scenarios,”
is critical to the rapid reopening of a port at the University of Southern Mississippi, said Lucas. Gulf Blue®, a Gulf Coast
following a hurricane. “The Port of Gulfport is leveraging data analysis and prediction, innovation initiative led by the University
is in the business of maintaining infra- which USM plans to provide. “Small, nearly of Southern Mississippi (USM), will help
structure, yet some of our most important imperceptible changes can accumulate connect companies looking to test new
assets are underwater, like the channel over time, evolving into significant issues sensors and algorithms integrated with the
and harbor. This partnership will allow the that impact port operations. By identify- Triton as they execute Port surveillance.

Hornsea 4 Offshore Wind Project Discontinued in Current Form

Ørsted has decided to discontinue the Hornsea 4 project in the capital allocation is based on a strict and value-focused approach,
UK in its current form. Since the Contract for Difference (CfD) and after careful consideration, we’ve decided to discontinue the
award in allocation round 6 (AR6) in September 2024, the 2,400 development of the Hornsea 4 project in its current form, well
MW Hornsea 4 project has seen several adverse developments ahead of the planned Final Investment Decision later this year.”
relating to continued increase of supply chain costs, higher
interest rates, and an increase in the risk to construct and operate
Hornsea 4 on the planned timeline for a project of this scale.

In combination, these developments have increased the exe-

cution risk and deteriorated the value creation of the project.
Therefore, Ørsted has taken the decision to stop further spend on
the project at this time and terminate the project’s supply chain
contracts, meaning that Ørsted will not deliver Hornsea 4 under
the CfD awarded in AR6.

Ørsted will evaluate options for future development of the

Hornsea 4 project given the continuing seabed rights, grid
connection agreement and Development Consent Order.

Rasmus Errboe, Group President and CEO of Ørsted, said: “We

remain fully committed to being an important partner to the
UK government to help them achieve their ambitious target for
offshore wind build-out and appreciate the work they’ve done to
deliver a clear framework to support offshore wind. However, our

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Chelsea Technologies Delivers Instruments to

Support North Sea Collision Investigations
Chelsea Technologies Ltd announced the swift shipment of the UviLux PAH
Fuel monitoring system to the University of Hull School of Environmen-
tal Sciences.

This will support their assessment of the coastal environmental impact

following the Jet A1 fuel spill from the Stena Immaculate and MV Solong
collision in the North Sea.

The University of Hull (Prof. Rodney Forster’s team) has been highly respon-
sive and has already taken many samples back to its laboratory for analysis.

They have also used the Chelsea FastOcean/Act II (precursor to the

Chelsea LabSTAF) for analyzing phytoplankton primary productivity from
the water samples and have confirmed results show high values of phyto-
plankton productivity in the waters near the collision site.

The presence of healthy phytoplankton reduces concern about any poten-

tial impacts on the marine ecosystem.

The UviLux PAH Fuel will assist the University to assess concentration,
movement and dispersion of Jet A1 fuel from the vicinity of the colli-
sion site to the surrounding area including the Humber river over the
Chelsea Technologies
coming weeks.

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news | offshore industry ecomagazine.com/news/industr y

OceanAlpha Unveils L42 USV to Enhance Offshore Survey Capabilities

OceanAlpha showcased its latest maritime
autonomy solution at Ocean Business
2025, presenting the L42 uncrewed
surface vessel (USV) during a product
launch event. The vessel addresses
growing industry needs for efficient
offshore data collection through practical
innovations in endurance and payload
flexibility.

The L42 USV’s hybrid power system

provides over 1,500 km of operational
range (8 days at a speed of 4 knots), sig-
nificantly reducing the need for frequent
vessel retrieval during large-scale surveys.
Enhanced stability from four redundant OceanAlpha
electric motors allows reliable deployment
in diverse sea conditions, from coastal towing system enable rapid configuration leading adopter of USV technology for
waters to open ocean environments. changes between hydrographic mapping, professional offshore survey services,
pipeline inspections, and diversified the client brings extensive experience in
Engineered to streamline workflow scientific research missions. uncrewed marine operations. With this
integration, the platform supports partnership, OceanAlpha anticipates that
standard survey instruments, including According to OceanAlpha, the first the L42 will drive significant innovation
multibeam echosounder, towed side-scan production L42 unit has successfully and efficiency gains in the field, paving
sonar, towed magnetometer, sub-bottom completed third-party acceptance testing the way for enhanced safety, perfor-
profiler, and USBL positioning systems. and will be delivered to an African survey- mance, and sustainability in maritime
Its onboard wet-end payload lifters and ing company in April 2025. As the region’s surveys and beyond.

First Foundation for Denmark’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm

On April 29, 2025, Jan De Nul kicked off the installation campaign and the export cables connecting the offshore and onshore
of the monopile foundations for RWE’s Thor offshore wind farm. substations.
Heavy-lift vessel Les Alizés installed the first of 72 monopiles for
Denmark’s largest wind farm to date. When finished, the wind farm The monopile foundations have lengths of up to 100 meters and
will provide enough renewable energy to power more than a million weigh up to 1,500 tonnes. Les Alizés picks up the foundations
Danish households. at Eemshaven, The Netherlands, before sailing to the installation
site off the western coast of Jutland, near Thorsminde. The final
RWE’s Thor wind farm will have a capacity of more than 1 GW, monopile installation is planned towards the end of 2025.
moving significantly closer to Denmark’s goals for the energy
transition. More than a million Danish households will receive
renewable energy produced in the North Sea. The 72 wind
turbines will find their home near the west coast of Jutland, some
22 kilometers offshore.

Günther Fenle, Project Director for Thor at RWE: “Our Thor

offshore wind farm—currently under construction—will be
Denmark’s largest to date. The successful installation of the first
monopile marks a significant milestone, achieved through the
collaborative efforts of everyone involved. My thanks go to all
colleagues and suppliers for their contribution so far.”

Jan De Nul has a big role to play in the construction of Thor.

Besides the monopile foundation and scour protection instal- Jan De Nul’s heavy-lift vessel Les Alizés installing the
lation, the company will also install the inter-array cable system first monopile at Thor. (Image credit: RWE)

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TGS Selects Exail USBL System for Geophysical Surveys

TGS, a leading provider of energy data and intelligence, has accuracy in shallow waters have significantly improved the
selected the Exail Gaps M7 USBL system to enhance its under- efficiency and reliability of our offshore operations, and we are
water tracking capabilities, boosting efficiency and accuracy in confident it will continue to enhance our geophysical surveys.”
offshore geophysical surveys.

The Gaps M7 is a pre-calibrated USBL positioning system with

an integrated Inertial Navigation System (INS), delivering precise
subsea positioning from ultra-shallow waters to depths of 7,000
meters. With a 200° acoustic aperture, it enables true horizontal
tracking for high-accuracy positioning, making it ideal for TGS’s
demanding offshore surveys. Lightweight and pre-calibrated,
the Gaps M7 ensures fast deployment, minimizing downtime
and streamlining survey workflows. Its rugged design guar-
antees stable performance in harsh offshore conditions,
supporting TGS in acquiring high-quality geophysical data while
reducing project costs.

“We needed a solution that would provide reliable, precise, and

high elevation tracking of our magnetometer and side scan
sonar,” said Anders Landbø, Director of Maritime Performance
and Projects at TGS. “After testing other USBL systems without
satisfaction, we tried Gaps and then decided to invest in this
solution as it exceeded our expectations, offering ease of use
and exceptional performance. Its pre-calibrated setup and high Exail

Miros Strengthens Oil Spill Detection System

with Cloud-Enabled Capabilities
Miros, an industry leader in real- ing application. Vital oil spill data is and data access further reinforce
time ocean insights for maritime instantly synced to the cloud, ensuring accountability at every stage of spill
and offshore operations, has made all stakeholders have access to the event management and support
a significant update to its Oil Spill same real-time information, enabling regulatory authorities’ auditor function
Detection (OSD) system. seamless collaboration and informed requirements.
decision-making.
The latest version of the Miros OSD
now features cloud-enabled capa- This announcement follows hot on
bilities, a natural product evolution the heels of Miros unveiling the latest
that further distinguishes it from expansion to its product line with the
other oil spill detection solutions on launch of the Oil Spill Detection (OSD)
the market while aligning seamlessly Monitoring application in Miros Cloud.
with the company’s other cloud-en-
abled products. The system provides oil spill action
accountability by storing and syncing
With the new Miros OSD System, oil spill
The updated OSD system supports all relevant data and operator data is instantly synced to the cloud,
continuous communication with the actions for all alarm events to the ensuring all stakeholders have access to
the same real-time information and enabling
Miros Cloud infrastructure and is the cloud. Robust user authentication
seamless collaboration and informed
backbone of the Miros OSD Monitor- and authorization for alarm handling decision-making. (Image credit: Miros)

ecomagazine.com summer 2025 eco | 27

A New Era of
Maritime Wind
Forecasting
By Craig Summers, Ph.D., Founder & CTO, SailTimer Inc.

Marine weather services and apps all use An Aged Method Before connected sensors were common-
the same satellite weather data for their The satellite weather data set is created in place, the World Meteorological Organiza-
forecasts. They have different interfaces, GRIB (GRIdded Binary) format. Displaying tion worked with ports to recruit ships to
but the satellite data and weather models the data points on a grid makes it easy report weather observations at sea. NOAA
only come from a few sources, such to draw contour lines between different has crowdsourced data available from
as NOAA (USA), the UK MetOffice, and weather zones. However, the GRIB weather ships offshore. This data is in near real time
ECMWF (European Centre for Medi- cells are large and assume that the (for the most recent hour) and can provide
um-Range Weather Forecasts). If ships wind is uniformly the same everywhere a good test of the accuracy of the GRIB
offshore had more accurate weather data, within the cell. satellite forecast versus actual measure-
it would allow more accurate calculations ments from ships offshore.
of arrival times. They could then reduce The models only forecast what the large-
speed to lower fuel costs, greenhouse gas scale “gradient wind” will be (e.g., the wind These wind measurements on ships have
emissions, and carbon taxes. caused by geographic variations in air a resolution of 0.1 degree (six nautical
pressure and the Coriolis effect). But the miles). That creates cells of 6 x 6 = 36
Satellite imaging has worldwide coverage wind you experience is also affected by square nautical miles. This is not precise,
and is, therefore, the primary source local convection—when the air is warmed probably for security and competition
of data for marine weather forecasts. up and rises, air from elsewhere flows in reasons, but it is sufficient for our pur-
However, satellites have low resolution to replace it. These local sea breezes can poses since it exceeds the resolution
because they are 500–22,000 miles above be precisely measured with wind sensors. of the GRIB satellite weather forecast.
in space and even with supercomputers, In a SailTimer study, we investigated the Through July 2024, 50,883 wind measure-
government weather agencies can only accuracy of coarse GRIB satellite forecasts ments on ships worldwide were publicly
generate a new worldwide forecast for predicting wind direction and whether available from NOAA. The Mean Absolute
every six hours. better data sources are now available. Error is based on difference scores

28 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

 forecasts are so unreliable that ship
captains often don’t trust voyage optimi-
zation software. However, if they use the
traditional strategy of “Sail fast, then wait”
at ports, the ship cannot reduce its fuel
costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Harnessing Source Data

In the new era of emissions grading and
carbon taxes for ships, voyage optimiza-
tion is the future of ship navigation. Unlike
changing engines to avoid fossil fuels,
voyage optimization can be used now with
no up-front costs. But only if accurate data
Wind barbs indicating offshore wind measurements from a range of ships, buoys, coastal stations,
and fixed platforms/rigs accumulated over the month of May 2024. (Image credit: SailTimer) is available. Even the best voyage optimi-
zation software in the world is only as good
between the ship measurement of actual We tested wind direction in the GRIB sat- as its data.
wind direction versus the GRIB satellite ellite forecast against 103,321 actual wind
forecast for that location. The GRIB satel- measurements on ships worldwide within There are thousands of ships offshore
lite forecast for wind direction was found to one 24-hour period on July 2, 2024. The at any one time, all equipped with wind
have a large average error of 35 degrees results with this data set were the same, sensors waiting to be utilized. Maritime
(in either direction). And 68% of the ship showing that the GRIB satellite forecast is wind forecasting is on the cusp of a
measurements (1 standard deviation) are shockingly inaccurate when compared to transformation, primed for moving away
only within 40 degrees of that. measurements from ships offshore. The from inaccurate predictions using satellite
mean absolute error in forecasted wind image processing to weather maps that
Integrating Observations directions is +/-35.4 degrees (a range of are updated in real time with crowd-
One of the problems with NOAA’s real-time 70 degrees!). The mean absolute error for sourced data.
wind measurements on ships is that the wind speed, which has a smaller scale, is
wind direction is inexplicably rounded to 10 +/-3.3 knots (a range of 6.6 knots). A wind More Info at:
degrees. We, therefore, moved to a larger sensor with an average 70-degree range https://www.sailtimer.co
NOAA dataset where the wind direction of error could never be sold. But that is
is reported in single degrees. This larger what ships have to navigate with.
data set includes wind measurements
from ships, drift sensors, weather buoys, Accuracy decreases even more when
lightships, coastal weather stations, and the forecast is further into the future and
fixed platforms/rigs. This data set has where wind flows around landforms in
about 5,000 data points per hour. coastal and harbor regions. GRIB weather

Real-time NOAA wind observations from ships in the SailTimer crowdsourcing database, March 10–July 6, 2024. (Image credit: SailTimer)

ecomagazine.com summer 2025 eco | 29

news | offshore industry ecomagazine.com/news/industr y

RBR Revolutionizes Subsea Data Harvesting with New Integration

RBR Ltd (RBR), a leading provider of oceanographic instrumen- insights that will drive innovation, security, and sustainability in the
tation, has announced the integration of Hydromea’s innovative ocean economy.”
LUMA™ FLEX optical modem into its range of standard loggers.
This strategic partnership enables the wireless transmission
of oceanographic data from subsea environments, marking a
significant leap forward in subsea environmental monitoring.

The integration of LUMA FLEX technology into RBR’s instruments

empowers users to efficiently collect large volumes of data
wirelessly using AUVs and ROVs, supporting the rapidly expanding
ocean economy. This collaboration underscores both companies’
commitment to advancing underwater data acquisition and
analysis, enhancing the capabilities of industries reliant on subsea
infrastructure and government agencies in monitoring underwater
environments.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Hydromea, integrating their

miniature LUMA FLEX technology into our instruments,” said Greg
Johnson, President of RBR. “This partnership not only elevates
our offerings but also sets a new standard for wireless subsea
data transmission, enabling more efficient and informed deci-
sion-making across various sectors.”

“Hydromea is excited to see our LUMA technology being adopted

by RBR, a renowned leader in oceanographic solutions,” added
Igor Martin, CEO of Hydromea. “Together, we are unlocking the
RBR
full potential of underwater data harvesting, providing critical

Subsea Micropiles Installs First-of-Its-Kind Offshore Anchor

Following a period of intensive develop- Jim Buck, Harbormaster at OHA, com- “The Orkney Harbour Authority is pleased
ment with over £10 million invested in mented: "The technical solution that has to become an ‘early adopter’ in order
R&D, Subsea Micropiles reached a major been developed by Subsea Micropiles has to support innovation like this in the
technical milestone with the installation of exceptional potential to become critical marine industry—and we will now explore
a commercial drilled and grouted "micro- infrastructure for floating offshore wind opportunities for its use, whether that be
pile" anchor solution for Orkney Harbour in Scotland. as a mooring point for our tug fleet or uses
Authority (OHA) in Scotland. around offshore wind in the future.”

The adaptation of micropiling technology

to the offshore sector poses a highly
beneficial disruption to the industry. Using
smaller vessels and remote seabed drilling
systems, large construction jobs can be
more reliably completed with lower cost,
minimal environmental impact and high
local content.

The approach led by Subsea Micropiles

provides a scalable industrial solution for
large projects including offshore wind,
both fixed and floating structures. Foun-
dation designs can be adapted for high
load regimes across a wide range of soil
Mobilization of drill rig from Lyness, Hoy. (Image credit: Subsea Micropiles)
conditions.

30 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

news | offshore industry ecomagazine.com/news/industr y

Kraken Robotics Adds Synthetic Aperture Sonar Service Offering

Kraken Robotics Inc. announced that it is
launching a synthetic aperture sonar (SAS)
service for the global offshore energy
market. Kraken’s commercial services
team will have dedicated KATFISH towed
SAS systems available for rental start-
ing July 2025.

“While the KATFISH has been used

successfully as a service in the defense
market for many years, we are pleased to
have multiple assets we can introduce to
the commercial market,” said Lynne Adu,
Executive Vice President and Chief Com-
mercial Officer at Kraken. “SAS offers a
Kraken will provide synthetic aperture sonar surveys for the offshore energy
significant increase in resolution and range market with its KATFISH towed system. (Image credit: Kraken)
compared to side scan sonar, and there is
already significant interest for applications been utilized around the world for applica- per side, providing some of the industry’s
like pre- and post-offshore construction tions ranging from mine countermeasure highest area coverage rates available. The
survey and underwater infrastructure operations to critical underwater infra- high resolution of Kraken SAS helps to
inspection.” structure inspection and harbor survey. derisk projects, with the ability to differ-
entiate between manmade and natural
Kraken’s KATFISH towed SAS debuted as The system offers real-time 3 cm x 3 cm contacts and identify small contacts that
a product 7 years ago. Since then, it has resolution with a range of up to 200 meters may be on or near infrastructure.

Integrated Autonomous
and Remote Systems -
Seabed to Surface
Advanced Ocean Systems offers a unique spectrum of engineering,
fabrication, testing, and installation capabilities designed to support
defense, offshore energy, seabed infrastructure, and scientific
operators with the integration of uncrewed technologies and
remote systems into at-sea operations.

#SeaTheAdvantage
@ AdvancedOceanSystems.com

ecomagazine.com summer 2025 eco | 31

news | environmental policy ecomagazine.com/news/policy

Proposed 2025 IOOS Reauthorization to Strengthen Ocean Monitoring

Representatives Mike Ezell (R-MS-04), the Great Lakes," Chairman Westerman to improve the program’s effectiveness,
Bonamici (D-OR-01), Weber (R-TX-14), said. "Reauthorizing the IOOS will help including clarifying the type of data IOOS
Dingell (R-MI-06), Radewagen (R-AS), and us continue to support healthy fisheries, provides as operational oceanographic
David (D-IL-07) introduced legislation boost maritime commerce, support the information; updating statutory references
to reauthorize the Integrated Ocean United States coastal communities, and to reflect current law by replacing the
Observing System (IOOS) for the next five make informed decisions for various National Ocean Research Leadership
fiscal years, maintaining its authorized maritime operations. I'd like to thank Council with the Ocean Policy Committee;
funding level at $56 million annually. The Congressman Ezell for his work on this and enhancing the role of the Interagency
bill ensures continued support for critical important legislation." Ocean Observation Committee to ensure
ocean monitoring efforts that benefit IOOS is used to its full capacity as an
coastal communities, fisheries, and The IOOS Reauthorization Act of 2025 integrated system.
maritime industries. includes minor but important updates

"IOOS is essential to keeping coastal

economies strong and resilient, especially
in Mississippi," Ezell said. "This reautho-
rization ensures we maintain vital ocean
monitoring resources while modernizing
the program to maximize its impact. I’m
proud to introduce this legislation to
support jobs, commerce, and our nation’s
leadership in ocean science."

"Ensuring we have accurate and up-to-

date ocean monitoring data is vitally
important for coastal communities and

New Co-Chairs Announced for Congressional

National Marine Sanctuary Caucus
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation announced that Rep. Sanctuary System and its importance to local economies and
Jack Bergman (R-MI) and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) will co-chair jobs, and public-private partnerships in conservation, maritime
the bipartisan Congressional National Marine Sanctuary Caucus heritage, outdoor tourism and recreation, and education across
in the 119th Congress. the country.

Members of the bipartisan National Marine Sanctuary Caucus are The caucus supports and promotes public policy that conserves
champions of a network of underwater parks in the ocean and our nation’s most iconic natural and cultural marine resources for
Great Lakes, as well as the coastal communities that steward and all Americans; raises awareness and understanding of national
rely on them. The caucus serves as a strong voice in our nation’s marine sanctuaries and shares their successes as models
capital and among their peers in Congress working to raise for marine conservation worldwide; supports continued and
awareness and strengthen commitment to the National Marine robust funding for marine sanctuaries; and builds a coalition of
champions for our national marine sanctuaries and our coastal
communities.

Joel Johnson, President and CEO of the National Marine Sanc-

tuary Foundation, said, “We welcome Rep. Jack Bergman and
returning co-chair Rep. Jared Huffman to their leadership of the
House National Marine Sanctuary Caucus, and we thank the entire
caucus for their commitment to these special waters valued by all
Americans. We look forward to working with the caucus leaders to
protect and restore our most treasured habitat and heritage in our
ocean and Great Lakes and catalyzing more opportunities for the
coastal communities who rely on national marine sanctuaries.”

32 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

news | environmental policy ecomagazine.com/news/policy

Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act Reintroduced to Protect

Lagoons and Estuaries
US Representatives Mike Levin (CA-49), Brian Mast (FL-21),
Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), and Jen Kiggans (VA-2) reintroduced
the bipartisan Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act, which would
revitalize federal efforts to strengthen and protect lagoons and
estuaries. This bill would reauthorize and enhance the Coastal and
Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) and require the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to work
toward designating five new National Estuarine Research Reserves
and to enhance the Reserve System.

Congress established the CELCP to provide grants to state

and local governments to protect coastal and estuarine areas
deemed to have conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, areas that might help mitigate the effects of environmental
or aesthetic value. This program supports locally driven efforts to changes through blue carbon storage.
protect coastal and estuarine lands for conservation, research,
and recreation. CELCP’s authorization expired in fiscal year 2013, The Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act would also support
and other federal funding mechanisms ran out in 2017. and expand the National Estuarine Research Reserve System
(NERRS), which the Tijuana River Estuarine Research Reserve is a
The Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act would revive funding part of. The NERRS is a network of 30 coastal sites covering 1.4
for CELCP at $60 million per year and expand the eligibility for million acres designated to protect and study estuarine systems.
program to include nongovernmental organizations. The bill would The Reserves specialize in research and data monitoring to
prioritize funding for projects in communities that lack resources support conservation and management efforts locally and
for coastal hazards, areas threatened by climate change, and around the country.

BOEM Revises OCS Planning Areas to Address Jurisdictional Changes

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
(BOEM) has made modifications to the
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) planning
areas used for managing the oil and gas
program, increasing the total number of
planning areas from 26 to 27. This change
includes the establishment of a new High
Arctic Planning Area and updates to other
planning areas, reflecting recent changes in
US OCS jurisdictional limits.

The main purpose of an OCS planning area

is to divide large OCS regions for planning
and other administrative purposes for oil
and gas activities. Planning areas are also
used to facilitate the required analytical
comparison among the OCS regions at the
National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program
development stage, as well as for coordina-
tion with state and local governments. The
four OCS regions are Alaska, the Pacific, the
Gulf of America, and the Atlantic.
(Image credit: BOEM)
This update follows the US Department
of State's Dec. 21, 2023, announcement Notice 12244. As a result of this notice and of 2022, BOEM has reassessed the juris-
regarding the outer limits of the US amendments to the OCS Lands Act that dictional limits of the OCS and recalculated
continental shelf as reflected in Public were included in the Inflation Reduction Act acreages by region.

ecomagazine.com summer 2025 eco | 33

news | environmental policy ecomagazine.com/news/policy

Canada Proposes Southern Resident Killer Whale Protections

Canada’s west coast is home to one of
the most iconic and recognizable marine
species—the Southern Resident killer
whale. This species faces imminent threats
to its recovery and survival that all levels
of government must work together to
address. The three primary threats facing
this species are physical and acoustic
disturbance, such as underwater noise,
reduced prey availability, and environmen-
tal contaminants.

Since 2018, the Government of Canada

has taken several actions to address sary and responsible actions to protect for Southern Resident killer whales;
threats to the Southern Resident killer this species. progressively prohibit vessel discharge
whale and has done so in consultation and of washwater from scrubber systems in
partnership with Indigenous communities The Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Southern Resident killer whale critical
and stakeholders. This includes area- Canadian Coast Guard, the Honorable habitat; adjust salmon fishing closures
based fishing closures, interim sanctuary Diane Lebouthillier, and the Minister of for 2025 and/or 2026 in key areas where
zones, speed restriction zones, increased Environment and Climate Change, the Southern Resident killer whales forage
approach distances for vessels, enhance- Honorable Steven Guilbeault, proposed for food as needed; and identify interim
ment of Chilliwack River Chinook salmon, additional actions to address threats to underwater noise objectives within the
scientific monitoring, pollution prevention Southern Resident killer whales that build critical habitat of the Southern Resident
initiatives, outreach and education, and on existing measures. killer whale, which will serve as bench-
compliance and enforcement activities. marks to measure noise level changes
Canada will continue to take the neces- The Government of Canada is proposing over time and guide efforts to reduce
to increase vessel approach distance underwater noise.

US Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Clean Up Marine Debris

US Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01),
Amata Coleman Radewagen (American
Samoa-At Large), and James Moylan
(Guam-At Large) introduced bipartisan
legislation to strengthen efforts to combat
marine debris and protect the ocean.

Marine debris poses a significant threat to

coastal economies, marine ecosystems,
and wildlife. The Save Our Seas (S.O.S.)
2.0 Amendments Act of 2025 builds upon
the success of the Save Our Seas 2.0
Act—the most comprehensive marine
debris legislation ever passed by Con-
gress—and provides greater flexibility to
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) to work with other
stakeholders in marine debris prevention
and removal efforts. Oceans Caucus members Rep. Radew- Specifically, the S.O.S. 2.0 Amendments
agen and Rep. Moylan in introducing this Act will enhance the marine debris
“We all must work together to keep our bipartisan legislation that will strengthen foundation’s operations, improve outreach
ocean free from marine debris,” said the Marine Debris Foundation’s critical to tribes, and strengthen NOAA’s Marine
Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “I’m work and better support projects to clean Debris Program.
pleased to join my colleagues and fellow up and prevent marine debris.”

34 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

news | environmental policy ecomagazine.com/news/policy

Ocean ROI Act Introduced to

Support the Blue Economy the
US Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and water
Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) and US Senators Murkowski
(R-Alaska) and Cantwell (D-Wash.) introduced legislation
to strengthen coastal communities and the blue economy
column
environment coastal & offshore
across the US—through technological research and
development, job training, and cross-sector partnerships.
Navigating a Landscape of Change: Policy,
The bipartisan, bicameral Ocean Regional Opportunity and
Innovation (Ocean ROI) Act would direct the Secretary of Workforce, and Energy—All in Flux
Commerce to establish “Ocean Innovation Clusters,” while As the close of Q2 quickly approaches, it’s safe to
providing grants for their establishment, operation, and say that characterizing 2025 as a year of change
administration. wouldn’t be wrong.

“Ocean innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it relies With a new-look administration in the US, we’ve seen a
on strong federal partnerships and trusted scientific heavy reduction in the federal workforce, a wave of envi-
institutions and federal agencies,” said Pingree, a senior ronmental policy introductions and walk backs, and pauses
appropriator and member of the House Oceans Caucus. or altogether cuts of funding—all of which continue to
“The Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act is a impact developments far and wide.
bipartisan, bicameral effort to invest in our Blue Economy,
boost ocean-based industries, and strengthen the resil- With an influx of experienced talent entering the available
ience of coastal communities from the Gulf of Maine to the workforce pool, private entities might be in an advanta-
Bering Sea. Congresswoman Salazar, Senator Murkowski, geous position to scoop up knowledgeable and skilled
Senator Cantwell, and I represent some of the most iconic experts to bolster their teams.
and vulnerable coastlines in the nation. We know just how
vital the ocean is to our economies, our environment, and The global offshore energy space as a whole—oil, gas, and
our future. The United States should be leading the world renewables—is in a state of flux, being constantly shaped
in ocean innovation, not dismantling the partnerships that by shifting geopolitics. From withdrawals of offshore wind
make it possible.” leasing in the US outer continental shelf to the removal of
regulatory and funding barriers for LNG and offshore oil &
“A strong blue economy will require strong coordination gas, the capacity to respond to unfolding policy priorities
and creativity, and that’s why I’m leading this effort to will be key to commercial developers.
invest in our ocean clusters and take advantage of the
opportunities for innovation and collaboration,” said Sen. Recent announcements by Ørsted, who discontinued
Murkowski. “This effort doesn’t just focus on the untapped the Hornsea 4 project in the UK in its current form; Fugro,
economic potential of our blue economy but also ensures who slimmed down its workforce and scaled back its US
that collaboration is at the center of any conversation or operations; and Beam, who ceased operations and made
effort to address the impacts of climate change on our more than 100 staff redundant in late March, may speak to
coastal communities. By providing incentives and work- the volatility of the global offshore wind market.
spaces for Alaskans in maritime and maritime-adjacent
industries, we can achieve real progress in strengthening While some Q1 uncertainties seem to have been settled,
the blue economy.” there’s little indication that this wave of change is over.

Specifically, the Ocean ROI Act would require the Sec- Spaces we’re watching: marine and ocean policy; funding
retary of Commerce—acting through the administrator pipelines; offshore energy.
of the US Economic Development Administration, and
in consultation with the administrator of the National You can find “the water column” in each edition of eco
magazine, nestled among the pages of Environmental Policy
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)—to
News, and in a monthly digital version available at:
designate at least one ocean innovation cluster in each
of the five NOAA Fisheries regions, Gulf of Mexico region, https://ecomagazine.com/reporting/water-column
and the Great Lakes region. The bill would also authorize
$10 million for competitive grants for cluster operation
and administration to support.

ecomagazine.com summer 2025 eco | 35

news | environmental policy ecomagazine.com/news/policy

New Joint Resolution Walks Back BOEM Marine

Archaeological Resources Rule
US President Donald Trump signed S.J.Res.11, a joint resolution Following President Trump’s national energy emergency
disapproving the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s rule declaration in February, Secretary Burgum swiftly implemented
titled "Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources." directives to reverse the withdrawal of Outer Continental
Shelf areas from oil and gas leasing initiated by the previous
The BOEM rule, published under the previous administration on administration.
Sept. 3, 2024, mandated that all new oil and gas leaseholders
on the Outer Continental Shelf submit archaeological reports
in previously unsurveyed areas where operations proposed
seafloor disturbing activities.

The Trump-Vance administration has adopted a red tape reduc-

tion agenda as directed in Executive Order 14192, "Unleashing
Prosperity Through Deregulation." Interior Secretary’s Order
3421, “Achieving Prosperity Through Deregulation,” further
directs the Department to undertake actions to reduce burden-
some regulations in the energy sector.

“Focusing on innovation over-regulation to solve the nation’s

challenges is allowing us to smartly expand American energy
and make our world cleaner and safer by selling energy to our
friends and allies versus them having to buy it from our adver-
saries,” said Secretary Burgum.

BRIDGE Act to Strengthen Energy Security and Gulf Economic Growth

Congressmen Mike Ezell (MS-04), Dan “The BRIDGE Act ensures and maintains energy region, yet delays by the previous
Crenshaw (TX-02), Clay Higgins (LA-03), vital lease sales, giving American energy administration in finalizing a new offshore
and Randy Weber (TX-14) introduced the producers the certainty they need. Energy leasing program created an unnecessary,
Bringing Reliable Investment into Domes- independence is a national security issue, multi-year gap in lease opportunities—at
tic Gulf Energy Production (BRIDGE) Act an economic issue, and a family budget a time when global competition and
of 2025 to require the Secretary of the issue—and it starts right here at home,” energy uncertainty are intensifying.
Interior to conduct certain offshore oil Ezell said. Legislation like the BRIDGE Production
and gas lease sales in the Gulf of America. Act would restore much-needed certainty
This legislation aims to strengthen Amer- "NOIA thanks Congressman Ezell for his and allow the Gulf to continue its critical
ican energy security, create good-paying leadership in advancing solutions that role in powering the nation. We urge
jobs, and support economic growth along strengthen America’s energy future. Congress to act swiftly on bipartisan,
the Gulf Coast. The Gulf of America remains a premier bicameral measures that bring clarity,
stability, and renewed strength to US
offshore energy development," said Erik
Milito, President of the National Ocean
Industries Association.

The BRIDGE Act would require the

Secretary of the Interior to conduct
offshore lease sales in the Gulf of America
and other critical areas that have been
delayed or canceled under the Biden
administration. Offshore energy produc-
tion is essential to maintaining stable
energy prices, supporting hundreds of
thousands of jobs, and generating billions
of dollars in revenue for conservation and
coastal restoration efforts.

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news | environmental policy ecomagazine.com/news/policy

Legislation Reintroduced to Protect US Ecosystems

Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Brian Fitzpatrick The Coastal State Climate Preparedness Act would provide
(R-PA-01) reintroduced two bipartisan bills focused on addressing grants to coastal states in order to help them plan and implement
the effects of climate change on US coastlines, coastal communi- strategies to mitigate climate change, prepare for sea level rise,
ties, and marine ecosystems. and address other impacts. The bill allows states to use these
grants for climate change adaptation and to protect infrastructure
"The climate crisis is hitting our coasts hard—from eroding and coastal ecosystems.
beaches and stronger storms to declining fisheries. Regions like
the Central Coast are already feeling the impact and need federal The Ocean Acidification Research Partnership Act would autho-
support to adapt," said Rep. Carbajal. "I’m proud to work with Rep. rize up to $5 million in research grants for studies on the effects
Fitzpatrick to reintroduce two bipartisan bills that will provide of ocean acidification, a rapidly worsening climate threat that
coastal states with the tools they need to study and address the imperils US fishing and tourism industries.
threats to our oceans and fisheries.”

“The increasing threat of wildfires has become one of the most

critical public safety and environmental challenges of our time.
Wildfires take lives, destroy communities, and place immense
pressure on our brave first responders. As Co-Chair of the
Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I’ve prioritized advancing
practical, preventative solutions to stop these disasters before
they start. The Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act does just that—a
commonsense measure to streamline the removal of hazardous
trees on federal lands, help us better protect lives, safeguard
property, and preserve the vital natural resources our communi-
ties depend on,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick.

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news | coastal ecomagazine.com/news/coastal

Red Coral Colonies Survive a Decade After Transplant

The red coral colonies that were trans- The new study is a first step towards Globally, restoration actions in the marine
planted a decade ago on the seabed working at relevant temporal and eco- environment are still at an early stage. In
of the Medes Islands have survived logical scales, carrying out long-term particular, the first scientific methodologies
successfully. They are very similar to the monitoring through community-scale are only just being tested, and most are
original communities and have contrib- analyses, which allow inferring changes in aimed more at mitigating an impact than at
uted to the recovery of the functioning the functions and services provided by the restoring an entire ecosystem. At the same
of the coral reef, a habitat where species species present. time, there is still a significant lack of best
usually grow very slowly. practice protocols for these actions.

These results published in the journal

Science Advances indicate that actions
to replant corals seized by the rural
corps from poachers are effective not
only in the short term but also in the
long term, i.e., ten years after they have
been initiated.

Red coral (Corallim rubrum) poaching has

been a threat even in marine protected
areas. In addition, due to the slow growth
of this species, populations are still far
from pristine conditions. The research
results reveal the high survivability of the
transplanted red coral colonies after so The study confirms the success of some actions to restore corals seized from poaching,
which have allowed both the survival of the transplanted corals and the rapid recovery
many years. of the associated coral community. (Image credit: MedRecover Research Group)

USF Study Identifies Viruses in Red Tide Blooms for the First Time
A new study led by researchers at the University of South Florida Identifying viruses associated with red tide can help researchers
shines light on the environmental drivers of red tide blooms. Pub- forecast the development of blooms and better understand
lished in the American Society for Microbiology’s journal mSphere, environmental factors that can cause blooms to terminate. The
the study is the first to identify viruses associated with Karenia study marks an initial step toward exploring viruses as biocontrol
brevis, the single-celled organism that causes red tide. By testing agents for red tide.
water samples collected from red tide blooms off southwest
Florida, the researchers found several viruses—including one new “We know that viruses play an important role in the dynamics of
viral species—present in K. brevis blooms. harmful algal blooms, but we haven’t known what viruses might be
associated with Karenia brevis blooms,” said Jean Lim, the study’s
lead author and a postdoctoral researcher at the USF College of
Marine Science (CMS). “Now that we’ve identified several viruses
in red tide blooms, we can work to determine which viruses might
have an influence on these events.”

To conduct the study, Lim and her team partnered with research-
ers from the harmful algal bloom monitoring and research
program at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commis-
sion’s (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), who
collected samples during red tide events.

In the lab, Lim used a method known as viral metagenomics

to identify the viruses present within bloom-containing water
samples. Moving forward, Lim and her colleagues will attempt
to determine whether viruses identified in the recent study have
an influence on K. brevis or other species that co-occur with red
A fish kill on a coastal Florida beach caused by red tide blooms.
tide blooms. (Image credit: Jean Lim, USF)

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news | coastal ecomagazine.com/news/coastal

Edgewise Environmental Expands into the UK

Edgewise Environmental, a leading marine environmen- These services will support a range of marine sectors,
tal consultancy, has announced its formal expansion including renewable energy, oil and gas, and marine
into the United Kingdom. Known for its expertise in infrastructure.
marine mammals, seabirds, and underwater noise
mitigation, Edgewise brings a strong legacy of expert “Our entry into the UK represents both the culmination
consultancy, innovative technologies, and indus- of significant effort and a response to the increasing
try-leading training to the UK market. demand for specialized expertise across the Blue
Economy,” said Ashley Noseworthy, CEO & Founder
The new UK office, located in the Northeast of England, of Edgewise Environmental. “This expansion allows us
strategically positions Edgewise near key offshore to share insights from global markets and grow our
wind developments and critical shipping and offshore technology capabilities, reflecting our deep commit-
logistics hubs. From this location, the company will ment to global collaboration and the advancement of
offer a robust suite of services, including environmen- science-driven, sustainable marine operations. We’ve
tal monitoring and mitigation, with a particular focus had our sights set on the UK for some time, and since
on research and technology development in marine starting operations here in February, it’s already clear this
mammal and seabird detection. was the right move for the company and our clients.”

Halo Patterns Around Coral Reefs May Signal Resilience

In coral reefs throughout the world, visually striking bands of bare lead to overgrazing. This, in turn, creates a cyclical system that
sand surrounding reefs are often visible in satellite imagery, but oscillates between the presence and absence of vegetation. In
their cause remains a mystery. other words, the halos in a reef may emerge and then disappear
but reemerge again in due time.
A new study published in The American Naturalist, links grazing
halo patterns in coral reefs, as well as those in other patchy When coral patches, however, are densely clustered, resulting
habitats, to the spatial patterns of the shelter habitat itself. Given in limited shelter, the halos are more likely to remain stable. In
that halos only exist surrounding shelter habitat patches, the team healthy reefs, predator populations tend to constrain herbivores
wanted to examine how halos would look where coral are clus- from grazing, but both stable and cyclic halo patterns are possible
tered versus dispersed across the seascape. As part of the anal- in these systems. The authors say that tracking halo patterns
ysis, the team also set out to determine if the halo patterns could over time may be more important than tracking sizes. The team
be used to assess how healthy or stressed different reefs are. hypothesized that persistent halos should only really exist where
herbivores are highly limited, and shelter is clustered.
Researchers created two mathematical models to study the effect
of shelter habitat clustering on halo patterns. Then, they used
Heron Island in the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland, Australia,
as a case study, applying satellite imagery data from the coral reef
system to test their model.

In the first model, the team demonstrated how simple geometric

rules describing how circles overlap determine the amount of
vegetation cover expected when habitat patches are clustered
or dispersed. A second model was also created to examine how
the dynamics between herbivores and vegetation may impact the
presence and size of the halos.

The results revealed two scenarios. When the coral patches are Grazing halos at Heron Island, Australia, are distinct where coral are
clustered (outlined with a white box) but merge where coral are dispersed
dispersed, shelter from predators is also dispersed, which can (outlined with a black box). (Image credit: Theresa Ong & Airbus)

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eco | topside talks ecomagazine.com/repor ting/topside-talks

Rethinking Offshore Decommissioning

Through Marine Modeling

Sharing her expert insights on Sparking Debate

how marine modeling can influ- Decommissioning activities of offshore energy structures have
ence offshore decommissioning long sparked debate on the best course of action for ocean
operations, Dr. Molly James, ecosystems. Some argue that through the platform’s lifetime,
a Marine Ecosystems Modeler at Plymouth Marine Labora- the artificial habitat created carries significant value to the
tory (PML), joined eco magazine for an exclusive “topside marine ecosystem with the potential for increasing biodiversity
talks” interview. and fish populations. Alongside this argument, researchers have
suggested there might be ecological roles that these offshore
Offshore decommissioning is the comprehensive process artificial structures carry that need to be considered during
undertaken when offshore energy platforms reach their end of decommissioning assessments.
productive life. This complex engineering task is essential to
ensure that the surrounding marine environment is restored as Dr. James described marine connectivity as “the movement of
closely as possible to its pre-lease condition, minimizing envi- animals, plants, nutrients, and genetic material between patches
ronmental impact and protecting ocean ecosystems and nearby of habitat or populations. It is essentially the roads that connect
communities. The process typically involves multiple stages, spaces and ensure our biodiversity is healthy, resilient, and
including project management, engineering and planning, persistent.”
regulatory compliance, platform preparation, well plugging and
abandonment—where applicable, removal of structures such as Dr. James is a research collaborator for the Decommissioning
platforms and pipelines, and site clearance. Relative Effects of Alternative Management Strategies (DREAMS)
project. As part of this endeavor, she led a study titled “The
With the majority of offshore installations constructed during ‘everything is everywhere’ framework: Holistic network analysis
the oil and gas boom now approaching the end of their lifes- as a marine spatial management tool,” which was published in
pans, decommissioning has become a rapidly growing sector Ecological Informatics and detailed how artificial structures,
within the energy industry. The scale of the challenge is signifi- such as wind turbines or oil and gas platforms, could influence
cant: With over 1,500 offshore oil and gas platforms in the North the connectivity and dispersal of marine species.
Sea alone. Globally, annual spending on decommissioning is
projected to reach $13 billion within the next 25 years, reflect- “While DREAMS broadly aimed to assess the environmental
ing both the technical complexity and the increasing regulatory impacts of various decommissioning strategies, this research
and environmental expectations associated with these projects. centered on larval dispersal and how man-made structures—

40 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

 Left: The undersea foundations of Eureka—an oil rig nearing the end of its operational life in Southern California. Right: Optimal locations of grid cells containing
wind farms to enhance (left) or reduce (right) connectivity in the North Sea, based on the Connectivity Importance Index. (Image credit: James et al., 2025)

whether retained, removed, or relocated—affect marine connec- Informing the Future

tivity,” Dr. James shared. When asked how modeling studies could inform future deci-
sion-making, Dr. James pointed out that “these findings offer
The study introduces the ‘everything is everywhere’ framework, a science-based framework for decommissioning decisions
a method that combines hydrodynamic modeling, particle track- by showing which structures contribute most to connectivity
ing, and graph network analysis to evaluate marine connectivity. and where new infrastructure could strengthen ecosys-
By applying a newly developed Connectivity Importance Index tem resilience.
(CII), the research identifies key connectivity hotspots—areas
where ecological connections are strongest, providing crucial “Our findings show that some high-connectivity regions extend
information for future sustainable marine spatial management. beyond existing infrastructure. This suggests that future
offshore developments, such as renewable energy installa-
Leveraging Modeling tions, could be strategically positioned to support ecosystem
One of the most powerful things modeling has to offer is its resilience. It also highlights areas where repurposing existing
ability to generate data without field sampling. Unlike field-only structures—rather than removing them entirely—may offer
approaches, modeling can integrate diverse datasets, simulate greater ecological benefits.”
future conditions, and reveal emergent patterns such as ecosys-
tem-wide connectivity. It enables scenario testing that supports When pushed on suggestions for future research, Dr. James
better-informed policy decisions and helps us anticipate the was clear on the need: “We’re interested in refining the models
ecological outcomes of human actions before they occur. by incorporating species-specific traits, such as larval behavior
and spawning timing, and in evaluating how ecosystem connec-
When discussing the methods involved in the research study, Dr. tivity changes after actual decommissioning events.
James explained, “This study was entirely computational, and as
such did not use any direct in-field methods. Instead, it relied on “We’d also like to understand more about how these networks
modeled environmental data to simulate connectivity patterns. support genetic flow between populations and contribute to
Ground-truthed and validated tools, like FVCOM (Finite Volume overall ecosystem resilience. In addition, we’re keen to explore
Community Ocean Model) and ERSEM (European Regional Seas how offshore structures influence species interactions—partic-
Ecosystem Model), enabled us to explore ecological processes ularly competition—and how they may facilitate the spread of
at scale without requiring new field observations. invasive or non-native species through enhanced connectivity.”

“We use a suite of modeling tools that work together to simulate To find out more about Plymouth Marine Laboratory, visit:
physical and ecological processes. For this project, we used the https://pml.ac.uk
FVCOM hydrodynamic model to simulate ocean currents, PyLag
for particle tracking to mimic larval dispersal, and ERSEM to esti-
mate primary productivity, which helps us gauge food availability
for larvae. These were combined with graph network theory
to assess connectivity patterns. The data we used included
oceanographic conditions, infrastructure locations, bathymetry,
and biological parameters like planktonic larval duration.”

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news | coastal ecomagazine.com/news/coastal

Reefblocks Advances Biodiversity and Coastal Protection

Two years after the installation of the shrimp can thrive, offering protection for championed the initiative for nature-inclu-
'Rotterdam Reef,' the consortium of Rijk- both coastlines and marine life. sive infrastructure in the Port of Rotterdam.
swaterstaat, the Municipality of Rotterdam, The Municipality of Rotterdam supported
Boskalis, and Reefy presented that the The project's success is credited to strong innovation and ecological monitoring,
Reefblocks technology, developed by sus- collaboration among partners. Boskalis led gathering valuable environmental data.
tainable startup Reefy, successfully com- the installation of the Reefblocks, drawing Reefy developed the modular technology,
bined wave and erosion protection with on their expertise in hydraulic engineering seamlessly merging coastal protection
enhanced biodiversity. The project proves and coastal defense. Rijkswaterstaat with ecosystem restoration.
that infrastructure development and nature
restoration can go hand in hand.

In 2023, 17 Reefblocks were installed in

the Port of Rotterdam’s busiest shipping
channel near Rozenburg, creating the
modular Rotterdam Reef. These concrete
blocks form the backbone of a living
reef. Each block, measuring 3 meters in
length and weighing 6 tons, is designed
to withstand heavy wave impacts while
fostering a vibrant underwater landscape.
Featuring tunnels, shaded passages, and
rough textures, the structure creates a
Reefy
dynamic ecosystem where fish, crabs, and

OSIL Provides Water Quality Monitoring Solution with Beach Buoys

OSIL has announced the launch of its range of “Beach Buoys”
for environmental water quality monitoring that provide real-time,
automated water quality monitoring for open water sites, helping
organizations maintain safe water conditions while reducing
operational costs.

These buoys are designed to ensure regulatory compliance,

scientific research, preventative monitoring, and public health
protection. They enable municipalities, research institutions, and
industries such as aquaculture, wastewater management, and
desalination plants to track critical water parameters remotely.

Equipped with advanced sensors (measuring parameters includ-

ing coliforms, blue-green algae, dissolved oxygen, and hydro-
carbons) and location-appropriate telemetry systems, the buoy
systems provide early warnings for pollution events, algal blooms,
and contamination, allowing for rapid response. By automating
water quality monitoring, organizations can reduce the need
for manual sampling, optimize resource allocation, and ensure
compliance with environmental standards. The Beach Buoy is an
essential tool for protecting natural water bodies and ensuring
safe recreational water use.

Two sizes of Beach Buoy are available: the 1.2 m platform is

intended for longer deployments from spring to autumn, while the
smaller 0.6 m platform is for short-term deployment during the OSIL provides integrated systems for environmental monitoring
summer months. in all marine applications. (Image credit: OSIL)

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news | coastal ecomagazine.com/news/coastal

US Army Corps of Engineers Showcases Shore Protection Navigation Projects

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Jacksonville District of Port Canaveral to two segments of critically eroded shoreline in
command leadership, hosted by the Canaveral Port Authority Brevard County.
(CPA), provided US Rep. Mike Haridopolos (FL-8) with a waterside
tour of multiple projects totaling over $150 million in Federal Following damages caused by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, in
funding that ensure the continued safe navigation of Canaveral September 2023, the USACE Jacksonville District awarded a
Harbor and preserve Brevard County’s $47.6 million contract to The Dutra Group of San Rafael, Calif., to
execute a Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies (FCCE) rehabili-
In the last three years, the Federal government has invested over tation of the Mid and South Reach segments of the Brevard
$150 million between five projects, and through creative strate- County Federal shore protection project.
gies, the Corps is forecasted to save Federal taxpayers over $20
million by combining and optimizing projects in ways that make
sense in the name of efficiency.

The Canaveral Sand Bypass Project and the Brevard County Mid
and South Reach Shore Protection Projects are administered and
managed by the USACE Jacksonville District in partnership with
non-Federal sponsors, the Canaveral Port Authority, and Brevard
County. The beach renourishment initiatives involve the dredging
and bypassing of approximately 1.5 million cubic yards of sand
from north of the entrance to Port Canaveral, restoring miles of
shoreline south of the Port. These efforts have helped protect the
economy, homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure, helping
to sustain the livelihood of Americans living on and investing in
these beaches.

In September 2024, the USACE Jacksonville District awarded

a $40.6 million contract to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock, LLC, of
Houston, Texas, for the sixth iteration of the Canaveral Harbor Col. Brandon Bowman, USACE Jacksonville District Commander, speaks
Sand Bypass project. This project will move approximately 1.5 to members of the media at a press conference in Jetty Park highlighting
million cubic yards of sand from the shoreline immediately north a $150 million Federal investment in Brevard County shore protection
and beach preservation. (Image credit: Canaveral Port Authority)

MTS and Ocean Exchange Unite to Accelerate Innovation

The Marine Technology Society commercialization of cutting-edge ment programs. The partnership will
(MTS) and Ocean Exchange, two ocean solutions. allow the combined organization to
established nonprofits in the marine significantly amplify its impact.
technology sector, have announced The integration of Ocean Exchange
they are combining to drive innova- into MTS will enable the global MTS By combining expertise and
tion, advance emerging technologies, community to engage deeper in resources, MTS and Ocean Exchange
support healthy oceans and resilient Ocean Exchange’s well-established are committed to advancing innova-
coastal systems, and strengthen process for identifying, vetting, and tion, strengthening the ocean work-
the Blue Economy. This combination assisting innovative startups—pro- force, and accelerating the transition
will drive geographic expansion viding opportunities to accelerate of groundbreaking technologies into
and leverage extensive industry emerging technologies and invest- real-world applications.
networks to support the startup ment opportunities.
ecosystem. Through shared exper- This merger marks a significant
tise and resources, MTS and Ocean By joining forces with MTS, Ocean milestone in the marine technology
Exchange will create new business Exchange will tap into an interna- industry, ensuring innovation to
opportunities, connect emerging tional community with global reach, support a sustainable and thriving
technology leaders with experienced long-standing industry influence, and future for the world’s oceans remains
professionals, and accelerate the structured outreach and engage- central to the MTS mission.

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news | coastal ecomagazine.com/news/coastal

AD Ports Group & NYU Abu Dhabi Issue Coral Relocation Report
AD Ports Group, a leading global facilitator of logistics, industry,
and trade, in collaboration with NYU Abu Dhabi, published a new
detailed report titled: “Coral Relocation in the Arabian Gulf: Ben-
efits, risks and best-practice recommendations for practitioners
and decision-makers”, as part of its commitment to actively
contribute towards sustainable development and operations.

The report follows a three-year coral conservation and research

project driven by AD Ports Group and New York University Abu
Dhabi (NYUAD), which explored global coral relocation case
studies to develop best practices tailored to the Arabian Gulf's
unique environment.

AD Ports
The report provides best practices for planning, implementing,
and monitoring coral relocation programs, which will be invalu-
able to the conservation of corals across the Arabian Gulf. The Eiman Al Khalaqi, Senior Vice President—Innovation, AD Ports
complex and productive framework of Gulf reefs, which occur Group, said: “We are pleased to issue this invaluable coral reloca-
in all eight nations bordering the Arabian Gulf, provides food, tion report, in line with our efforts to achieve our country’s aspira-
shelter, and habitat to over 300 species of reef-associated fish, tions of being a world leader in environmental and climate action
sharks, and rays, with many of these species being fully reef-de- by 2071. This report is a testament to our dedication to inte-
pendent for part or all their lifecycle. Adoption of the principles grating sustainable practices into coastal development. We are
and practices outlined in the report will serve to enhance the committed to safeguarding these vital ecosystems and leaving a
success of coral relocation programs in the Arabian Gulf. positive impact on our environment for future generations.”

Marine Radar Can Accurately Monitor Vessel Speeds to Protect Whales

A new study by researchers at Protected-
Seas highlights the potential of marine
radar technology to monitor speed of small
vessels. The research, aimed at testing the
accuracy of radar in assessing potential
violations, found that the technology
could detect speed violations with 95%
confidence, offering a promising solution
to help reduce the threat of vessel strikes
on whale populations. The analysis was
recently published in the journal Sensors.

A 2020 study led by the ProtectedSeas

team found that smaller boats can repre-
sent 34% of traffic in busy ports like San
Francisco Bay. Unlike large commercial
vessels, which are often monitored using Marine Monitor Shore-Based Radar System. (Image credit: ProtectedSeas)

the Automatic Identification System (AIS), the accuracy of radar-reported vessel “This study confirms that marine radar,
smaller boats tend to go undetected, speeds. The analysis found a strong similar to road speed monitors, can be
making it harder to enforce speed limits correlation between radar and AIS speeds, used to track the speeds of smaller
and prevent strikes, especially in areas with vessels traveling within 1.8 knots of vessels that are not equipped with AIS,”
where whales are feeding or migrating. radar-reported speeds to AIS values with said M2 Co-founder Brendan Tougher,
95% confidence. Understanding radar a coauthor of the study. “Marine radar
The research team conducted a large- speed accuracy enables reliable reporting technology can be an effective tool to
scale study comparing radar and AIS and analysis, supporting effective design, monitor and enforce speed limits for
data from the M2 system across 3,097 monitoring, and enforcement of vessel smaller vessels to better protect whale
vessel tracks at 10 locations to estimate speed limit measures. populations.”

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NOC Opens New Innovation Hub to Power the Blue Economy

The UK’s National Oceanography breakout rooms, and dining zones,
Centre (NOC) has unveiled an traditional office spaces, and
ambitious new Innovation Hub in cutting-edge soundproof acous-
Southampton, designed to acceler- tic smart pods.
ate advances in ocean technology
and support sustainable growth Mark Hamson, Innovation Hub
across the blue economy. Manager, said, “Our mission is to
foster innovation and innovative
Backed by a £200,000 investment, organizations in a collaborative envi-
the state-of-the-art facility will ronment, supporting and advancing
serve as a catalyst for innovation in commercial opportunities in the blue
marine autonomous systems (MAS), economy by creating connections
the blue economy, and beyond. between industry and science.
It will bring together researchers,
businesses, and entrepreneurs to “This will help to harness the
drive progress across the ocean and potential of the ocean for sustainable
maritime sectors. economic development, driving inno-
vation and creating jobs and value in
The new hub, which covers a 304 sectors such as fisheries, aquacul-
Mark Hamson, Innovation Hub
square meter floor space, features ture, tourism, maritime transport, and
Manager. (Image credit: NOC)
state-of-the-art meeting, con- renewable energy to a wider pool of
ference, and hot-desking space, innovators.”

BETTER DATA WHERE YOU NEED IT MOST

M&E specializes in the design and execution of coastal data
collection and site characterization services, including bathymetric,
topographic, and GPS surveys for critical offshore infrastructure,
beach restoration campaigns, and dredging projects.

Learn more about M&E’s advanced marine robotics and remotely

operable technologies at: www.morganeklund.com

www.morganeklund.com
(772) 388-5364 linkedin.com/company/morgan-eklund

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Sulfur Runoff Amplifies Mercury Concentrations

Sulfur applied to sugarcane crops in South
Florida is flowing into wetlands upgradient
of Everglades National Park, triggering a
chemical reaction that converts mercury
into toxic methylmercury, which accumu-
lates in fish, new research from University
of California, Davis finds.

In a paper published in Nature Commu-

nications, researchers collected water
and mosquito fish across wetlands fed
by agricultural canals. They documented
how sulfur runoff can dramatically
increase methylmercury concentrations
in fish—sometimes up to 10 million times
greater than the waters in which they
lived, posing a risk to human health and A water sample collected as part of research in the Florida
Everglades. (Image credit: Brett Poulin, UC Davis)
wildlife. Growers apply sulfur to alkaline
soils in South Florida to manage pH levels Environmental Toxicology. “It could have called archaea that convert mercury into
and increase the availability of nutrients effects on cognition, on development, methylmercury. Sulfur contamination has
to sugarcane. and it’s preventable to some degree been found in over 60% of the Everglades.
because we know what changes we can Reducing the use of sulfur in agricul-
“Methylmercury is a neurotoxin, and it’s make to decrease mercury levels in fish in ture could quickly decrease mercury
particularly problematic because it can managed wetlands.” levels in fish.
get across the blood-brain barrier, so it
gets into our central nervous system, and The authors said local management and “The concentrations of mercury that we
it can also cross the placental barrier,” sustainability actions could reduce the see in fish and avian populations in South
said lead author Brett Poulin, an assistant regional use of sulfur, which fuels anaero- Florida are some of the highest that you
professor in the UC Davis Department of bic bacteria and tiny single-cell organisms will see anywhere in the world,” Poulin said.

Lantra Gears Up to Tackle Harmful Algal Blooms

Lantra—the training and skills body for the land-based and envi- to take on the next stage of the HABs initiative. Employers in the
ronment sector—has expanded its capabilities in the aquaculture aquaculture sector will already be familiar with the services Lantra
sector after taking over the leadership of a UK-wide training provides, so we see this as a natural addition to our aquacul-
initiative focused on harmful algal blooms (HABs). ture offering.

Funded by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs “The user-friendly, introductory-level course is designed to be
(Defra) UK Seafood Fund: Skills and Training Scheme, the program accessible and understandable, enabling the sector to work
is designed to help producers mitigate the challenges associated together on tackling the challenges associated with HABs. Timing
with HABs. Outbreaks are caused by rising water temperatures, is key, and we’ll be rolling out the training ahead of the summer
among other factors, and can lead to significant health and season, which is when HABs can be most prevalent.
welfare issues for farmed fish.

Training will help to ensure the workforce is following standard

operating procedures for detecting and reporting HABs in open
coastal waters, which were initially developed as part of the
Scottish Government’s Farmed Fish Health Framework. The
ambition is to create a more consistent and effective reporting
system for the entire sector that can inform predictive models and
early-warning systems.

Jillian Couto-Phoenix, Head of aquaculture at Lantra, said: “With

decades of experience providing training and qualifications for
Lantra
people at all stages of their careers, Lantra is very well placed

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Seagrass Transplanting Opens New Preservation Prospects

A study has resulted in the trans- zone to the Larvotto Marine exceeded the area initially trans-
plantation of Posidonia oceanica Reserve. The technique used, known planted, recording an expansion of
seagrass on the scale of an as "clod" transplantation, enabled 25.8% in 2024.
industrial project as part of maritime the roots and associated substrate
works in Monaco. This success to be preserved intact, giving the This experience is revolutionizing
challenges the idea that these eco- plants a better survival rate. The the way in which seagrass con-
systems are "non-transplantable". study validated an operational tech- servation is approached in coastal
This unprecedented experiment, nique capable of transplanting large development projects. Until now,
conducted over a period of eight areas of seagrass in record time, the destruction of seagrass beds
years, opens up new prospects a major step forward in preserving was considered irremediable, and
for the preservation of seagrass these fragile ecosystems. compensatory measures were
meadows threatened by coastal often limited to the installation of
urbanization. Three years after transplanting, artificial reefs. However, this study
both the transplanted and natural proves that transplantation is a
The experiment began in 2017 with seagrass beds were flowering. viable alternative that should be
the relocation of 384 m² of seagrass After eight years, the surface area fully integrated into environmental
meadows from the construction of the transplanted seagrass had conservation strategies.

Investigating Artificial Oxygen Supply as a Coastal Solution

Coastal waters around the world are increasingly losing oxygen,
with dramatic consequences for both ecosystems and the
people who depend on them. The Baltic Sea is a well-known
example: with the consequences of spreading hypoxic or anoxic
zones evident in fish kills, the decline of spawning grounds and
toxic blue-green algae blooms. So why not introduce oxygen into
the sea where it is most urgently needed?

Dr. Caroline P. Slomp, Professor of Geomicrobiology and

Biogeochemistry at Radboud University in the Netherlands,
and Andreas Oschlies head the Global Ocean Oxygen Network
(GONE)—an international expert committee of the United
Nations Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC
UNESCO) researching the causes and consequences of declin-
ing oxygen levels in the ocean.

Oschlies and Slomp investigated two technical approaches for

supplying oxygen to bodies of water: air or pure oxygen injection
(bubble diffusion) and pumping oxygen-rich surface water into
deeper layers (artificial downwelling). Both methods have already Large amounts of oxygen in the ocean are consumed as the organic
been tested locally, producing partially positive results. However, matter in algae blooms decays and sinks to the seafloor. (Image
as soon as the measures are discontinued, the anoxia usually credit: Copernicus Sentinel data (2019), processed by ESA)

returns very quickly.

Slomp‘s conclusion: “The technical possibilities for supplying
The Chesapeake Bay near Baltimore in the USA is one example oxygen do not replace the need for consistent climate protection
of this. After decades of aerating a shallow tributary, the systems and the reduction of nutrient inputs from agriculture and wastewa-
were switched off, and the oxygen levels fell back to their original ter. However, under certain conditions, they can help mitigate the
levels within a day. worst consequences of oxygen deficiency, at least temporarily.”

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Reef Renewal Bonaire Hosts Coral Restoration Workshop

Reef Renewal Bonaire (RRFB) hosted a week-long coral restoration accelerate the efficacy and collective impact of coral restoration
workshop from March 31 to April 4, 2025, bringing together throughout the Caribbean.
restoration practitioners from across the Dutch Caribbean. Teams
from Reef Renewal Curaçao, Saba Conservation Foundation, and
ScubbleBubbles Foundation (Aruba) joined RRFB in Bonaire for a
packed week of hands-on training, presentations, and cross-is-
land collaboration.

Each day featured formal presentations and field-based sessions

focused on a variety of techniques, including coral micro-frag-
mentation, fire coral propagation, photogrammetry, and education.
Participants shared lessons learned from restoration efforts on
their islands, explored new ideas, and worked side-by-side on
RRFB’s active restoration sites.

This workshop marks a key step in RRFB’s long-term vision to

foster greater collaboration across the Caribbean. By connecting
teams with shared goals and challenges, RRFB is working to build
a more unified approach to reef restoration—one that leverages
local expertise while responding to shared environmental threats,
such as coral bleaching and disease.

RRFB plans to continue growing its regional network through Teams fragment a brain coral that has shown increased
future workshops, field exchanges, and joint research initiatives. resilience to coral bleaching, which will be added to RRFB’s
By strengthening partnerships across islands, RRFB hopes to tray nursery at Oil Slick Leap. (Image credit: RRFB)

Study Maps Algae Patterns in Lake Okeechobee

Lake Okeechobee, Florida’s largest Results from this new model, published in component of the region’s hydrolog-
freshwater lake, plays a vital role in the March in the journal Ecological Modelling, ical balance.
state’s ecosystem and water manage- show how cyanobacteria in the center
ment. Spanning 730 square miles with an of Lake Okeechobee move toward the
average depth of just 9 feet, it serves as surface in the morning to access more
a crucial water source for agriculture and sunlight, which boosts their growth and
flood control. increases their densities. At the same
time, winds—mainly from the south or
However, the lake faces increasing southeast—push these surface-dwelling
harmful cyanobacteria blooms, partic- cells toward the northern and northwest-
ularly from the toxin-producing species ern parts of the lake.
Microcystis aeruginosa. Using a new
physical-biogeochemical model that Lake Okeechobee’s watershed receives
combines water movement and biological inflows from the Kissimmee River and
activity, researchers from Florida Atlantic surrounding areas. Water then flows
University’s (FAU) Harbor Branch Ocean- out through various discharge points,
ographic Institute, in collaboration with including the Everglades, to the south.
the University of South Florida College of During periods of excess water, partic-
Marine Science, studied the daily vertical ularly during the wet season, the lake
movement of cyanobacteria in Lake also discharges water into the St. Lucie
Okeechobee during the summer. While and Caloosahatchee Rivers. Therefore,
previous models of the lake have explored blooms in the lake may significantly affect A satellite view of Lake Okeechobee on June 12,
2023, shows algae blooms covering about 380
both physical and biological processes, water quality and phytoplankton blooms square miles of the lake. (Image credit: NASA
none have specifically addressed this daily in these estuaries. This complex water Earth Observatory image by Wanmei Liang, using
vertical migration of cyanobacteria. system makes Lake Okeechobee a key Landsat data from the US Geological Survey)

48 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

Leveraging eDNA to
Accelerate Energy
Development
By David M. Lodge, Chris Scholin, and Elif Demir-Hilton,
MTS eDNA Technology Committee

Assessing the potential and expanding the development of off-

shore resources is essential to meet growing global demands— Versatility in the Field
whether for energy, rare materials, or protein sources. Offshore One of the key advantages of eDNA is its compatibility with
developers, the many material and service supply chains that automated workflows, making it highly scalable and well-suited for
support them, and consumers of energy would all benefit from integration with advanced technologies. Recent advancements
faster (and therefore cheaper) permitting and monitoring. in automated samplers, sensors, and the platforms on which they
are deployed are synergistically modernizing ocean observations
Multidisciplinary marine surveys are key in the development and using a variety of teleoperated and fully autonomous systems.
permitting process and include a range of assessments, from
seafloor and water column site characterizations and environ- Whether on robotic platforms or crewed vessels, new tech-
mental impact assessments to post-construction monitoring and nologies have set the stage for next-generation ocean obser-
decommissioning studies. Traditional methods for in-situ biolog- vation. The integration of edge computing, machine learning,
ical assessments, such as net sampling, are slow and expensive, and artificial intelligence enables holistic and remote ocean
often incomplete, and rarely repeated due to cost and logistical observations without necessarily requiring a human presence
constraints, making it difficult to holistically assess the costs and is a game changer. Undoubtedly, this will continue to be an area
benefits of offshore industries. Better, faster, and more cost-effec- of rapid innovation that will transform ocean robotics—and,
tive site characterization methods are needed. Thankfully, scalable along with it, data acquisition, analysis, and dissemination both
options are at hand. ashore and at sea.

eDNA Adoption Offshore Path to Realization

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is already being applied in many Bringing these new tools and techniques to bear on solving
freshwater and marine contexts globally. It is used to map the challenges and pitfalls of long-standing ocean observation
the location of imperiled species, provide early detection for requires the coalescence of industry working in partnership
invasives, improve fisheries stock assessments, and generate with cognizant government agencies and the academic
an inventory of species present simultaneously in support of research community.
biosecurity and environmental monitoring. What once required a
variety of observational techniques can now be largely replaced
Federal policy action is needed
using a single method: collection of a water sample and analysis
of the DNA it contains. eDNA has proven to significantly improve
to accelerate a vir tuous cycle
accuracy, increase speed, and reduce costs. of innovation in suppor t of
offshore energy development.
These advantages make eDNA a much more practical means
for monitoring offshore sites, enabling adaptive management The MTS eDNA Technology Committee provides an ideal forum
of structures and operations. The method also offers a scalable to catalyze public-private partnerships to advance such practical
approach to meet existing needs, enhancing and simplifying envi- and scalable applications that meet real-world needs. Our com-
ronmental monitoring to serve improved long-term management mittee is working in pursuit of that goal with focused subgroups
practices for the benefit of all. that concentrate on policy, method and data standardizations,
and field-deployable instrumentation. The formal adoption of
Although many federal agencies use eDNA, applications remain eDNA technology requires the alignment of those three key areas.
primarily in research or comparative assessments, even though its Actionable policies that are based on agreed-upon standards,
utility for decision-ready results has clearly been demonstrated. supported by deployable purpose-made instrumentation for
Legislation, new rules, or just clear messaging from agency streamlining sample acquisition and analysis, offer a path forward.
leaders is needed to give resource managers the confidence
to base decision-making on eDNA information. Such a demand To find out more, visit:
signal from the federal government is essential to encourage www.mtsociety.org/eDNA
private sector investment in more eDNA goods and services.

ecomagazine.com summer 2025 eco | 49

news | fisheries & aquaculture ecomagazine.com/news/fisheries-aquaculture

Aquaculture Farmers Scout New Farm Locations Using Satellite Data

When you’re looking to start an oyster
farm, there are a lot of environmental
factors to consider. From water tempera-
ture to algae type to weather and water
conditions—all of these factors influence
how fast an oyster can grow, how much
they have to eat, their likelihood of survival.

Determining these factors and finding the

best farm location can take a great deal of
time and money. However, using satellite
data, a dedicated team of researchers
aims to help aquaculture growers.

NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite

Data and Information Service’s Coast-
Watch and NOAA Fisheries partnered
to adapt a new satellite-derived Habitat
Suitability Index to identify productive
Scientists are using satellite data to support the identification of sites most
regions for seafood farming.
suitable for oyster farming in the Gulf of Maine (Image credit: NOAA)

Scientists analyzed data from two clarity. All of these factors impact how oysters. These highlighted both suitable
satellites, NASA’s Landsat-8 and the quickly oysters grow, their likelihood of and unsuitable regions to grow oysters.
European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2, survival, and when they spawn. These data
for the Damariscotta River in the Gulf of were used to calculate an oyster habitat They also went back in time to 2016, giving
Maine, which historically has a thriving suitability index based on the ecology and farmers a historic look at environmental
oyster industry, making it an ideal place to life cycle of Eastern oysters. conditions relevant to their oysters. This
conduct this study. data-driven method is more efficient than
The researchers then used the habitat trial-and-error approaches, giving farmers
The satellites measured sea surface tem- suitability index to generate seasonal the best available information with which to
perature, plankton abundance, and water maps of growing conditions for the make decisions.

High-Speed Video Reveals Unexpected Jaw Movements in Reef Fish

Some reef fish have the unexpected ability to move their jaws "It's extremely unusual among vertebrates and has interesting
from side to side, biologists at the University of California, Davis ecological and evolutionary consequences when it does occur,"
have discovered. This ability—which is rare among vertebrate said Peter Wainwright, professor in the Department of Evolution
animals—allows these fish to feed rapidly and efficiently on algae and Ecology at UC Davis and senior author on the paper.
growing on rocks. The work is published in Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences. Most fish species feed on prey floating freely in the water by
sucking in a mouthful and trapping
Being able to move your jaw from side anything inside it. But on reefs, about
to side might not seem surprising from half of fish species feed by grazing
a human point of view, but if you look on algae or other organisms growing
across all vertebrate species—half on the reef.
of which are fish—it is almost unique,
said Peter Wainwright, professor in the Michalis Mihalitsis, at the time a
Department of Evolution and Ecology at postdoctoral researcher in Wainwright's
UC Davis and senior author on the paper. lab, used high-speed video to observe
feeding in Zanclus cornutus or "Moorish
For mammals, being able to move our Idol," a spectacular reef fish with an
lower jaw from side to side as well as up and down allows us elongated snout. He discovered that Zanclus can move both its
to chew our food before swallowing it. That has helped make upper and lower jaws from side to side, allowing it to tug food
mammal species the dominant herbivores on land. items off a surface or work its mouth into cracks.

50 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

news | fisheries & aquaculture ecomagazine.com/news/fisheries-aquaculture

Damen and Folla Maritime Forge Partnership

Damen Shipyards Group and Folla Maritime Service AS have
announced their collaboration in the aquaculture market. This
partnership combines Damen’s global expertise in shipbuilding
and Folla Maritime’s deep knowledge of the Norwegian aqua-
culture industry. Together, the two companies will be well-posi-
tioned to respond to emerging trends and developments in this
fast-growing market, both in Norway and globally.

Damen has reached an agreement to acquire a majority stake

in Folla Maritime to strengthen its position in the growing aqua-
culture market. The rising global demand for seafood, driven
by population growth, is a key reason for Damen’s expansion
into aquaculture. Recognizing the need for sustainable vessels
and smart maritime solutions, Damen aims to support fish farm
owners and service providers by combining shipbuilding expertise
with industry know-how.
Damen

By combining their complementary strengths, Damen and Folla

Maritime will offer a diverse portfolio of multi-functional hybrid available in multiple lengths and configurations to support farm
or electric vessels tailored for various offshore and nearshore owners and service vessel providers in their needs. Together, they
aquaculture activities. This includes small personnel vessels leverage the full capacity of Damen’s production sites worldwide
and workboats, large steel workboats and larger service vessels with diverse vessel types.

Malaysia’s Wild Fish Catch Is Stagnating While Aquaculture Surges

Aquatic foods are vital to Malaysia’s Malaysia, and the Institute for Future nent of aquaculture, making up more than
food security, nutrition, economy, and Initiatives at the University of Tokyo. half of total farmed output. This low-cost,
livelihoods—with both capture fisheries low-impact system has quietly become
and aquaculture playing central roles. It finds that overfishing, habitat loss, and one of the country’s most promising blue
However, the sector is currently at a challenging governance and market envi- economy success stories.
critical juncture. A new study shows that ronments have pushed capture fisheries
despite its critical role, capture fisher- to the limit. In 2022, wild-caught fish still Co-author Dr. Cristiano Rossignoli,
ies have stalled while farmed fish and made up 69% of Malaysia’s total fish Research Lead at WorldFish, said Malay-
seaweed are now driving growth. production, but output has remained flat. sia’s aquatic food systems are facing
both risk and opportunity.
The study published in Frontiers in In contrast, aquaculture, which includes
Sustainable Food Systems is authored by farmed fish, shrimp, and seaweed, “Aquaculture in Malaysia still faces key
scientists from WorldFish, the Centre for contributed up to 30% and continues sustainability challenges. However,
Marine and Coastal Studies, the School to expand. Malaysia’s seaweed farming it holds great potential to meet the
of Biological Sciences at Universiti Sains sector is now the single largest compo- growing demand for aquatic foods,
especially as wild fisheries stagnate. To
unlock this potential, smallholders must
be supported in adopting sustainable
practices,” he said.

The study highlights the challenges faced

by fisheries and aquaculture in Malaysia.
They face rising costs, limited access
to hatcheries, poor cold storage and
processing facilities, complex regulatory
processes, and environmental vulnerabil-
ity. Many are being squeezed out of the
sector altogether.

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news | fisheries & aquaculture ecomagazine.com/news/fisheries-aquaculture

Innovasea Grows RAS Design Team with Expert Addition

Innovasea, a global leader in technologically advanced aquatic aquaculture farms. Martin will join a dedicated team with extensive
solutions for aquaculture and fish tracking, hired Miguel Martin experience designing and delivering freshwater and saltwater
to join the company’s recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) tailored to the needs
design team. Martin brings nearly a decade of aquaculture experi- of each site.
ence as both a facility manager and RAS designer.

Martin previously worked at Norwegian RAS design companies

Nofitech and Pure Salmon Technology. While there, he contributed
to projects covering all phases of the salmon production process
for farms worldwide. This included sites in Norway, Scotland,
Japan, the Faroe Islands, Brunei, and the United States.

“Miguel brings invaluable experience in designing large-scale

systems for salmon production,” said Innovasea Managing
Director, Juan Pablo Barrales. “We are excited to welcome him to
the team and leverage his insights.”

Innovasea delivers a comprehensive array of technology,

equipment, and expertise for both land-based and open ocean Miguel Martin. (Image credit: Innovasea)

UMaine Research Examines Best Methods

for Growing Atlantic Sea Scallops
A new study from the University of Maine’s Ear-hanging, a technique adapted from the primary product from scallops that are
Aquaculture Research Institute (ARI) and Japanese scallop farming, offers a sold in US seafood markets.
Darling Marine Center is helping to refine potential alternative. This method involves
best practices for growing Atlantic sea drilling a small hole in the scallop’s shell The study found that scallops grown with
scallops (Placopecten magellanicus), a and suspending it on a line, allowing for ear-hanging culture had slightly larger shell
species of increasing interest to Maine’s better water flow and potentially reducing heights, about 1–4% greater than those in
aquaculture sector. maintenance needs. lantern nets. More significantly, ear-hang-
ing scallops had up to 12% more adductor
Published in the journal Aquaculture, the To evaluate the effectiveness of each muscle weight, which is the primary
research compares two scallop farming method, researchers partnered with two product sold in US seafood markets and
methods, ear-hanging and lantern net commercial scallop farms in Maine’s commands a higher price per pound when
culture, over a complete grow-out cycle Penobscot Bay and Frenchman Bay. Over larger. This suggests a potential advantage
to determine which approach yields the four years, they measured scallop growth for growers aiming to maximize profitability
best results for commercial growers. The and the weight of their adductor muscles, within that market.
study provides new insights into how
each method influences scallop size and
adductor muscle weight, a key factor in
market value.

Maine’s scallop aquaculture industry is still

in its early stages, and growers are looking
for efficient ways to scale up production.
Suspended culture is the most common
approach, with farmers typically using
multi-tiered lantern nets to grow scallops
to a harvestable size. However, this method
requires frequent maintenance to manage
biofouling—an unwanted accumulation of
microorganisms, plants, and animals—and
to optimize growth conditions. Atlantic sea scallops attached to ear-hanging lines underwater. (Image credit: Christopher Noren)

52 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

news | fisheries & aquaculture ecomagazine.com/news/fisheries-aquaculture

New Portable System to Aid Coral Reef Restoration Goes Remote

A portable coral aquaculture system that
can be packed away and moved in sea
containers to remote areas to help with
coral reef restoration is being put through
its paces in the Maldives for the coral
spawning season.

The Reefseed project is a collaboration

between the Australian Institute of Marine
Science (AIMS), the Maldives Marine
Research Institute (MMRI), and Australia’s
national science agency, CSIRO. The trial
of the self-sufficient system is taking place
at Maniyafushi Island, in the South Male
Atoll, and is taking advantage of coral
spawning, a period of time when many AIMS’ Andrea Severati providing officials with a tour of ReefSeed. (Image credit: Naaish)
species of corals reproduce, helping coral
reefs to repair and recover. bundles will be fertilized and reared into the Maldives, said: “ReefSeed has given
coral larvae in the ReefSeed system before us hope in restoring reefs that have faced
Scientists and technicians from AIMS and being settled and transferred to reefs on tremendous stress due to bleaching and
MMRI collected corals to bring into the specially designed ceramic devices. impacts of climate change. This initiative
ReefSeed system in readiness for coral makes coral reef restoration scalable and
spawning, which happens in the Maldives Khadeeja Ali, Director at MMRI, the body supports the restoration of coral reefs with
over several months. Coral egg and sperm overseeing ReefSeed project activities in genetically diverse corals.”

OCEANS IN ACTION
AUGUST 26 - 28, 2025 | MISSISSIPPI COAST CONVENTION CENTER | BILOXI

Why attend?
Engage with experts from Naval Meteorology &
Oceanography Command, NOAA, GulfBlue
Navigator, and more.
Explore the latest advancements from the
University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi
State University.
Connect through exclusive B2B/B2G meetings
with key industry and government leaders.
Exhibit & Sponsor—limited booth space available! mtsociety.org/oceans-in-action

ecomagazine.com summer 2025 eco | 53

news | fisheries & aquaculture ecomagazine.com/news/fisheries-aquaculture

Open Ocean Project Leads to Better Understanding of Gulf

Sturgeon Populations
The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group, in partnership
with the University of Florida, recently completed a project that
informs restoration decision-making and the implementation of
future projects to restore Gulf sturgeon—a species injured by the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Gulf sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi) inhabit both coastal

and estuarine waters in the northern Gulf of America; they are
found in seven river systems located in Louisiana, Mississippi,
Alabama, and Florida—the Pearl, Pascagoula, Apalachicola,
Escambia, Yellow, Choctawhatchee, and Suwanee.

The “Informing Gulf Sturgeon Population Status and Trends as

a Baseline to Evaluate Restoration” project set out to improve Staff recording data on adult Gulf sturgeon in the
our understanding of Gulf sturgeon populations by establishing field. (Image credit: US Geological Survey)
baselines in order to better evaluate the success of and target
restoration efforts. The project focused on standardizing data modernizing the Gulf sturgeon database and assessing the quality
collection and data storage and making access to such data of thousands of existing records for inclusion in the database; and
easier for researchers and agencies involved in their restoration engaged with the Gulf sturgeon research community to update
and management. critical population assessments.

The project improved how a network of Gulf sturgeon experts Included capture-recapture information in the complete database
collect data by developing tablets that were used to record data in on almost 22,000 individual Gulf sturgeon and several million
the field; improved the quality of data going back to the 1990s by capture-recapture records from 1976 to 2022.

Brimmond’s NetJet Completes Aquaculture Industry Trials

A pioneering aquaculture net cleaning
pump, designed and manufactured by
northeast Scotland-based engineering
specialists, Brimmond, has successfully
completed further trials with a world-lead-
ing supplier in the sector.

Brimmond’s NetJet™ recently concluded

its second live industry campaign with
AKVAGroup, the world’s largest supplier
of support and services to the aquacul-
ture sector. The net cleaning pump was
deployed to Loch Fyne in late 2024 for NetJet on its second industry trial. (Image credit: Brimmond)
a 60-day trial to test out some product
improvements following an earlier project local customer care package. Brimmond offshore aquaculture sector. The units
on a fish farm near Mull. has invested in a fleet of specialist vans, were initially designed to fill a gap in the
maintaining a stock of critical spares, market for an affordable but high-quality
Feedback from the clients during this which are stocked at the Aberdeenshire net cleaning solution as a rental option,
latest trial was extremely positive, high- facility so they can be rapidly deployed to but Brimmond has since experienced
lighting the unit’s ease and efficiency provide clients with technical support and exceptional demand from customers
of operation, as well as Brimmond’s maintenance. looking to purchase the units outright.
rapid response to customer service The engineering specialists have adapted
and support. Brimmond is currently the only company their business model in response and are
in the UK that offers a full 360° manu- now offering an expanded range of NetJet
The NetJet rental offering is supple- facture, rental, and support package for units available to purchase in a range of
mented by the firm’s comprehensive, high-pressure net cleaning pumps for the engine sizes.

54 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

news | fisheries & aquaculture ecomagazine.com/news/fisheries-aquaculture

NOAA Fisheries Pilots PCR Test to Identify Trafficked Fish

NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement be difficult to identify fish species through the device, the genetic markers produce
recently initiated its first pilot test of a new, visual examination alone. Often, NOAA a specific chemical reaction depending
rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) law enforcement staff must send genetic on what fish species is being tested for.
device. It will allow officers to quickly samples to forensics labs to verify the fish Currently, the device can detect more
perform genetic analysis while in the field. species. This can take weeks to process than 100 species, including tuna, shark,
Under US law, it is illegal to falsely label a and slow seafood products moving and eel, with additional genetic markers
product being imported into the United through US ports. This new technology planned for future development.
States. During inspection at ports, it can can help enforcement personnel identify
fish species, gather evidence, and inves- NOAA Fisheries enforcement staff tested
tigate potential seafood fraud, keeping the device during a weeklong enforcement
illegal seafood product from entering into operation at the Port of Newark, New
the US marketplace. Jersey. The operation focused on seafood
fraud and trafficking of marine fishery
NOAA Fisheries worked with Florida products. They collected genetic samples
International University to implement from imported fish at the port and used
the use of this innovative tool, which the device to identify the fish species.
was developed by their researchers. The With the tool, NOAA identified more than
device uses a PCR test, similar to those 27 tons of fish that were determined to be
used to detect COVID-19. However, illegally harvested, prohibited in trade, and
instead of detecting COVID-19, it uses listed in the annexes of the Convention
FIU scientist Diego Cardeñosa inserts the unique genetic markers to detect various on the International Trade of Endan-
collected samples from imported fish into the
PCR device. (Image credit: NOAA Fisheries)
fish species. Once samples are added into gered Species.

Juvenile Salmon Roam Between Salt and Fresh Water

The migrations that make up the well-known salmon life cycle a research scientist at the Northwest Fisheries Service Center
have long been described as one way at a time. Juvenile salmon and lead author of the new research. “This provides a more
hatch and swim down rivers to the ocean, where they grow complete and accurate picture of the habitat they are using,
and mature before returning to the same river to spawn the which helps us make informed decisions as to how to promote
next generation. their recovery.”

Turns out that many young salmon do things differently, according

to new research by NOAA Fisheries, Tribal, and university scien-
tists. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.

They discovered that as many as 22 percent of juvenile salmon in

California and Washington streams swam downriver to the ocean
and then back up other rivers as many as 9 times. They reached
rivers as far as 40 miles away along the coast. Instead of simply
entering the ocean for good, they roam miles of coastline, moving
between freshwater and saltwater and exploring rivers as they go,
said Todd Bennett, a salmon scientist at NOAA Fisheries North-
west Fisheries Science Center and coauthor of the new research.

Stretches of coast and their rivers form enormous salmon nurser-

ies for the exploring juveniles, the scientists said. The researchers
documented coho salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout using
coastal rivers separated by salt water, and suspect other species
may do the same.

“The landscapes are much more connected than we realized, Coho salmon smolts collected in a fish trap to assess local salmon
and salmon take advantage of that,” said Stuart Munsch, also populations in an Olympic Peninsula stream. (Image credit: Karrie Hanson)

ecomagazine.com summer 2025 eco | 55

eco | events ecomagazine.com/events

Aquaculture Canada Jun 8-11 Fredericton, Canada

https://aquacultureassociation.ca/aac-conference

UN Ocean Conference Jun 9-13 Nice, France

https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/ocean2025

Marine Measurement Forum 68 Jun 11 Surrey, UK

https://www.oceanwise.eu/marine-measurement-forum-68

OCEANS Brest Jun 16-19 Brest, France

https://brest25.oceansconference.org

Seagriculture EU Jun 17-19 Rotterdam, The Netherlands

https://seagriculture.eu

UK Coastal Research Conference Jul 1-3 Liverpool, UK

https://noc-events.co.uk/ukcrc-2025

ReMeMaRe Jul 9-10 North Yorkshire, UK

https://coastal-futures.net/rememare

AFS Annual Meeting Aug 10-14 San Antonio, TX

https://afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org

Australian Society for Fish Biology Conference Aug 18-21 Darwin, Australia
https://www.asfbconference.org.au/

Australasian Coasts & Ports Aug 18-21 Adelaide, Australia

https://coastsandports2025.com.au

Oceans In Action Aug 26-28 Biloxi, MS

https://mtsociety.memberclicks.net/oceans-in-action

ICES Annual Science Conference Sep 15-18 Klaipėda, Lithuania

https://www.ices.dk/events/asc/2025/Pages/default.aspx

OCEANS Great Lakes Sep 29-Oct 2 Chicago, IL

https://greatlakes25.oceansconference.org

ACP Offshore WINDPOWER Oct 6-8 Boston, MA

https://cleanpower.org/offshore-windpower

Oceanology Asia Oct 22-24 Shanghai, China

https://www.oceanologyasia.com/en/

Sustainable Coastal Development KSA Forum Oct 27-28 Hilton Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
https://ksacoastal.com

Living Shorelines Tech Transfer Workshop Oct 29-30 New Haven, CT

https://estuaries.org/2025-living-shorelines-tech-transfer-workshop/

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detection and tracking in 3D.

          
CSA Ocean Sciences DHI Water & Environment, Inc. ecoSUB Robotics Limited
 8502 SW Kansas Ave  141 Union Blvd. Suite 320  Unit 16, Camberley Business Centre
Stuart, FL 34997 USA Lakewood, CO 80228 USA Bracebridge, Camberley, Surrey
 +1 772-219-3000  +1 303-937-4488 GU15 3DP UK
 www.csaocean.com  www.dhigroup.com  +44 33 3800 8818
 [email protected]  [email protected]  www.ecosub.uk
 [email protected]
Founded in 1970 as a marine environmental DHI supports fundamental environmental
consulting firm, CSA specializes in multidis- impact related decision-making processes ecoSUB Robotics, an operating division of
ciplinary projects concerning potential en- across many marine and coastal sectors Planet Ocean Ltd since 2015, designs builds
vironmental impacts throughout the world through its proven modeling tools and con- and supplies innovative, disruptive Auton-
and offers a wide variety of desktop and sultancy services. We equip the environmen- omous Underwater Vehicles. These small,
field survey services. CSA is headquartered tal community with a comprehensive range of affordable but extremely capable vehicles can
in Stuart, Florida, with regional offices in offerings, including ‘Nature Based Solutions’ carry a growing range of payloads for science,
Tampa, Florida; Houma, Louisiana; Salinas, and advanced environmental stressor mod- energy and defence applications. ecoSUB
California; Houston, Texas; Port-of-Spain, eling - water quality, sediment plume, oil spill Robotics are dedicated to the democratisa-
Trinidad; Paramaribo, Suriname; Vitoria, Bra- and underwater acoustics. DHI also offers tion of AUV technology. ecoSUB AUV’s are
zil; and Perth, Australia. We provide clients pioneering integrated ecological modeling in operation around the World. ecoSUB was
with objective data collected in the field (Dynamic Habitat and Agent-Based) solutions, originally developed in association with the
and scientific research while maintaining an as well as real-time adaptive environmental National Oceanography Centre UK.
appreciation for the environmental, legal, monitoring and management systems.
and political sensitivities.

58 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

 To be listed in the Directory in print and on the web, Lisa Chilik Mimi King
please contact one of our account representatives: [email protected] [email protected]
+1 574-261-4215 +44 77 7601 7564

      
EvoLogics GmbH Marine Ventures International Morgan & Eklund, Inc.
 Wagner-Régeny-Straße 4,  8524 SW Kansas Ave  4909 US Highway 1,
12489 Berlin, Germany Stuart, FL 34997 USA Vero Beach, FL 32967 USA
 +49 30 4679 8620  +1 770-828-5464  +1 772-388-5364
 evologics.com  marineventures.com  morganeklund.com
 [email protected]  [email protected]  [email protected]
EvoLogics is a high-tech enterprise with Marine Ventures International, Inc. (MVI) Morgan & Eklund, Inc. specializes in the
headquarters in Berlin, Germany, and a US provides high quality, marine environmental acquisition of bathymetric, topographic, and
sales office in Yorktown, Virginia. EvoLogics and technical experts to conduct coastal geophysical data for domestic and global
creates high-end solutions for underwater and offshore field operations worldwide. We clients working on projects at coastal shore-
smart robotics, sensor systems, acoustic leverage our wealth of talent and resources lines, ports and harbors and offshore sites.
communication, and positioning networks. to bring you a customized team of indepen- We conduct topographic & hydrographic
Smart underwater networks build on Evo- dent contractors, subject matter experts and surveys as well as other field investigations
Logics‘ S2C spread-spectrum communi- specialized equipment to get the job done. for beach nourishment, restoration proj-
cation technology. Together with advanced Our professionals work in a variety of sectors ects, and engineering evaluations including
sensor systems, AI-based object recogni- from submarine cable projects and engineer- detailed underwater infrastructure assess-
tion and analytics, as well as autonomous ing services to protected species observation ments for submarine cables and pipelines,
underwater and surface vehicles for survey and environmental consulting. dredging, habitat investigations, and ocean-
and support operations, they create highly ographic studies.
capable underwater solutions for complex
mission scenarios.

       

Okeanus Science & Technology Planet Ocean Ltd PyroScience GmbH

 255 Equity Blvd.  Unit 16 Camberley Business Centre  Kackertstr. 11
Houma, LA 70360 USA Bracebridge, Camberley, Surrey D-52072 Aachen
 +1 985-346-4666 GU15 3DP UK Germany
 www.okeanus.com  +44 84 5108 1457  +49 241 5183 2210
 [email protected]  planet-ocean.co.uk  www.pyroscience.com/en/
 [email protected]  [email protected]
Okeanus Science & Technology is an
established provider of winches, handling Planet Ocean Ltd supplies and supports the PyroScience manufactures innovative
systems, and custom solutions for the widest range of gold standard marine science opto-chemical sensor concepts with expert
oceanographic and subsea industry. Proven, and technology instrumentation available in customer support to the worldwide research
reliable, and cost-effective, standard and the UK. Offering sensors and systems for bio- and industrial community. PyroScience intro-
custom designed winches range from small geochemistry, acoustics, physical oceanog- duced lately flexible one-device solutions for
all-electric instrumentation winches to high raphy, sedimentology, imaging flow cytometry, (ultra-trace, ultra-fast) O2 and total scale pH
horsepower all-electric or hydraulic umbilical bacterial monitoring, hydrography, meteorolo- measurements underwater with several sen-
and multi-purpose oceanographic systems. gy, and surveying. Planet Ocean also provide sor formats (screw cap, fiber-based & con-
Okeanus also provides a range of standard platforms including the ecoSUB Autonomous tactless sensors). The AquapHOx products
and custom designed A-Frames, over-board- Underwater Vehicle (AUV), ROVs and Data comprise long-term loggers for stand-alone
ing sheaves, docking assemblies, HPUs, Buoys. Also available, mooring systems and operation during monitoring approaches and
and other auxiliary equipment. Okeanus has monitoring, cameras, lights, and positioners, real-time transmitters for ultra-fast water col-
offices in Houston TX, Houma LA. full ocean depth oceanographic swivels, ROV umn profiling in open ocean (down to 4000m)
operated push corers. and shallow-water coastal areas.

ecomagazine.com summer 2025 eco | 59

 eco | directory        
Consulting Engineering Expeditions Inspection Instruments Regulation Restoration/ Survey/ Training
directory.ecomagazine.com Remediation Exploration

       
SeaRobotics SeaTrac Systems Sequoia Scientific, Inc.
 7765 SW Ellipse Way  100 Hoods Lane  2700 Richards Rd.
Stuart, FL 34997 USA Marblehead, MA 01945 USA Bellevue, WA 98005 USA
 +1 772-742-3700  +1 617-981-4620  +1 425-641-0944
 www.searobotics.com  www.seatrac.com  www.sequoiasci.com
 [email protected]  [email protected]  Jim Decker
 [email protected]
SeaRobotics Corporation specializes in SeaTrac’s SP-48 USV is available for maritime
intelligent survey vehicles that are manned/un- observation, data collection and reconnais- Sequoia Scientific, Inc. designs and
manned and autonomously operated. Clients sance in both near-shore and offshore envi- manufactures the LISST and Hyper series of
include major military and commercial organi- ronments. This USV executes programmed in situ laser, optical, and holographic sensors.
zations, both US and foreign. Applications for missions that can last from several hours to These instruments are used worldwide for
SeaRobotics vehicles range from bathymetric several months. Users can update missions marine and freshwater science, environmental
and hydrographic surveys to coastal, harbor, on demand, supporting human-in-the loop re- monitoring, energy and industrial applications.
and riverine surveillance. SeaRobotics recently mote operations. SP-48 supports a variety of They are widely used from the deep sea to
extended its ASV line by introducing the sensors and a customer payloads, with a live shallow mountain streams to your lab bench,
SR-Surveyor M1.8, and the SR-Endurance 7.0. link to retrieve data and send commands. Cus- measuring parameters like particle size
In addition to their ASV line, SeaRobotics also tomers can choose to control their missions distribution, concentration, imagery, settling
designs and builds hull and tank bio-inspired or have SeaTrac manage them. flux, settling velocity, volume scattering
underwater grooming and cleaning systems. function, and hyperspectral backscatter
SeaRobotics also produces a variety of scien- and absorption.
tific sampling equipment such as box and push
corers and suction samplers.

To be listed in the Directory in print

and on the web, please contact one
of our account representatives:
    
Lisa Chilik
TDI-Brooks International, Inc. Teledyne Valeport Ltd. [email protected]
 14391 South Dowling Road  St Peters Quay, Totnes, Devon,
+1 574-261-4215
College Station, TX 77845 USA TQ9 5EW UK
 +1 713-208-1734  +44 18 0386 9292 Mimi King
 www.tdi-bi.com  www.valeport.co.uk
[email protected]
 Melissa Wood  [email protected]
+44 77 7601 7564
 [email protected]
Teledyne Valeport provides leading-edge
TDI-Brooks is a 28-year-old research and marine sensing and monitoring solution. We
service company specializing in geotechnical are a British designer and manufacturer of
and offshore survey projects; multi-disci- innovative, high-quality and reliable hydro-
plinary oceanographic and environmental graphic and oceanographic instrumenta-
projects; surface geochemical exploration; tion which includes: CTD & Environmental,
and high-end environmental chemistry for Current, Bathymetry, Sound Velocity and
IOC and offshore wind clients in addition to Tide Gauges. For over 50 years our tech-
federal and state agencies. TDI-Brooks is nology has been used worldwide by subsea,
headquartered in College Station, TX, and hydrographic, hydrometric, metrological &
has five (5) multi-use vessels suited for a wide positioning, oceanographic, ports, harbours
variety of oceanographic research duties for & dredging, renewable energy, and scientific
the offshore renewables and energy sectors. research organisations.

60 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

 eco | advertisers index

Okeanus Science & Technology .......................................................................................................

https://okeanus.com
2

OCEANS Great Lakes ..........................................................................................................................

https://greatlakes25.oceansconference.org
3

CSA Ocean Sciences ...........................................................................................................................

www.csaocean.com
5

EvoLogics................................................................................................................................................
www.evologics.com
7

Ocean Specialists ................................................................................................................................

https://oceanspecialists.com
9

In-Situ ...................................................................................................................................................
https://in-situ.com
15

eco magazine ..........................................................................................................................

https://ecomagazine.com
18, 57

Bluefield Geoservices .....................................................................................................................

https://bluefieldgeo.com
25

Advanced Ocean Systems .............................................................................................................

https:/advancedoceansystems.com
31

Marine Technology Society ...........................................................................................................

https://mtsociety.org
37

Morgan & Eklund ...............................................................................................................................

https://morganeklund.com
45

Oceans In Action ...............................................................................................................................

https://mtsociety.memberclicks.net/oceans-in-action
53

Marine Ventures International ......................................................................................................

https://marineventures.com
63

SeaRobotics .......................................................................................................................................
www.searobotics.com
64

ecomagazine.com summer 2025 eco | 61

eco magazine
eco magazine is an international applied marine science publication reporting on
the latest marine research news, policy regulation, coastal restoration projects,
and industry developments in offshore environments.

Published quarterly in both print and digital formats, eco magazine is distributed
for free to a growing subscriber base of marine professionals and at key industry
events around the globe.

editorial calendar 2025

Theme Topics Editorial Advertising Distribution

Rethinking Offshore Marine Pollution, Subsea April 28 May 16 Oceans In Action –

Operations Infrastructure, Minerals & August 26–28
Summer Energy Exploration, Marine
Carbon Dioxide Removal

Multidisciplinary Ocean Observation, Survey, July 7 July 25 OCEANS Great Lakes –

Sampling & Monitoring Maritime Archaeology, Survey, September 29–October 2
eDNA, AI & Machine Learning
Autumn

Marine Instruments Marine Instruments & Sensors August 26 September 12

Buyers’ Guide
Digital Only Special Issue

Fisheries & Aquaculture Water Quality, Aquaculture October 13 October 31

& Fisheries Technologies,
Winter
Harmful Algal Blooms

EDITORIAL TEAM ACCOUNT MANAGER ACCOUNT MANAGER PUBLISHER  facebook.com/ecomagnews

CONTACT Haley McQueen, Editor
[email protected]
Lisa Chilik
[email protected]
Mimi King
[email protected]
Technology Systems Corp.
8502 SW Kansas Ave, Stuart, FL 34997
x.com/ecoMagNews
US PR Submissions: +1 574-261-4215 +44 77 7601 7564 +1 772-221-7720  linkedin.com/company/
[email protected] [email protected] eco-magazine

62 | eco summer 2025 ecomagazine.com

DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
CREW TO EXECUTE YOUR
NEXT MARINE VENTURE?

—
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BIG IMPACT
Operational Resources
Project Management MARINE PROJECT
Subject Matter Expertise CONSULTING

Since 2009, Marine Ventures International (MVI) has supported commercial customers
and government agencies with best-in-class marine consultancy services for complex
naval defense, subsea infrastructure, and offshore energy projects around the world.

8524 SW Kansas Ave, Stuart, Florida 34997

marineventures.com

NAVAL DEFENSE & SECURITY | CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE | OFFSHORE OIL & GAS | MARINE RENEWABLES
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USVs to count on
With 25 years’ experience of designing, developing,
and deploying breakthrough remote marine
technologies, SeaRobotics offers an industry-leading
range of the uncrewed vessel classes to ensure the
right USV for your operations. searobotics.com