A new partnership spanning science and industry is working to develop an AI-powered, real-time detection system with the ability to track marine mammals as they move along the UK coastline.
The project is being driven through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) that combines expertise in marine conservation, robotics, marine autonomy and sensor technology from the University of Plymouth and MSeis.
Supported by Innovate UK, the project team will integrate advanced computer vision models into MSeis’s dual-sensor thermal and optical camera platforms to automate the detection and identification of marine mammals and floating anomalies such as debris.
With its development informed by expert spotters, the system will significantly enhance detection accuracy, operational efficiency, and offshore safety.
Ultimately, it aims to transform a traditionally manual and observation-dependent process into a robust, intelligent and scalable solution that sets a new technological benchmark in environmental monitoring and marine risk mitigation.
The project is being conducted at a time when marine industries, particularly offshore renewables and subsea operations, are expanding rapidly with an increasing need for reliable environmental monitoring and marine wildlife protection.
Technological advances now make real-time automated detection feasible, enabling this project to support safer offshore operations while contributing to long-term marine conservation and industry transformation.
Dr Dena Bazazian
