Computer Vision for Marine Mammal Monitoring

Developing a smart monitoring system to detect and track marine mammals in offshore environments
dolphin

Computer Vision for Marine Mammal Monitoring

Developing a smart monitoring system to detect and track marine mammals in offshore environments
Title: Computer Vision for Marine Mammal Monitoring 
Funded by:  UKRI Innovative - Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) 
Dates: 2025-2027 
Project partners: MSEIS Ltd 
The Computer Vision for Marine Mammal Monitoring with Fusion Thermal and RGB Cameras project aims to develop an intelligent monitoring system that detects and tracks marine mammals in offshore environments. By combining thermal imaging and RGB camera data, the system can operate effectively under varying weather, lighting, and sea conditions, providing reliable real-time awareness of marine mammal presence around offshore wind farm construction sites. 
The rapid expansion of offshore wind energy is essential for achieving global renewable energy targets. However, the installation of offshore wind turbines often generates high levels of underwater noise, particularly during activities such as pile driving, which can disturb or displace whales, dolphins, porpoises, and other marine mammals. Traditional monitoring methods rely heavily on human observers and acoustic monitoring systems, which can be limited by environmental conditions and operational constraints. 
This project leverages advances in computer vision and sensor fusion to create an automated, non-invasive monitoring solution capable of detecting marine mammals from vessel-mounted or fixed camera platforms. 
 

By integrating thermal and RGB imaging with advanced computer vision techniques, this project seeks to balance renewable energy development with marine conservation, enabling safer offshore operations while protecting vulnerable marine mammal populations.

Dena BazazianDr Dena Bazazian
Lecturer in Robotics and Machine Vision

Project objectives:
  • Develop a robust marine mammal detection and tracking system using fused thermal and RGB camera data. 
  • Improve detection performance in challenging conditions, including low light, fog, glare, and rough seas. 
  • Enable real-time monitoring and situational awareness during offshore wind turbine installation activities. 
  • Provide early warning alerts when marine mammals enter predefined safety zones. 
  • Support mitigation measures, such as temporary pauses or adjustments to construction operations, to minimize disturbance to protected species. 
  • Contribute to environmental compliance while facilitating the sustainable growth of offshore renewable energy infrastructure.
 
 
Offshore wind energy plays a critical role in the transition to low-carbon and sustainable energy generation. However, constructing and installing offshore wind turbines can produce significant underwater noise, particularly during activities such as pile driving and seabed preparation. These intense sound levels can disrupt the behaviour, communication, migration routes, and feeding patterns of marine mammals, including whales, dolphins, and porpoises. 
To comply with environmental regulations and protect vulnerable species, developers are required to monitor marine mammal activity and implement mitigation measures when animals are detected within designated safety zones. Existing monitoring approaches often rely on human observers or acoustic systems, which may be limited by poor visibility, adverse weather, background noise, and operator fatigue. 
This project addresses these challenges by developing an intelligent marine mammal monitoring system that combines thermal and RGB cameras with advanced computer vision and artificial intelligence techniques. The fusion of thermal and visible-spectrum imagery enables reliable detection and tracking of marine mammals across a wide range of environmental and lighting conditions, including nighttime operation, fog, and sea surface glare. 
Automated real-time analysis reduces dependence on manual observations and improves the speed and consistency of detections. By providing continuous monitoring and early warning alerts when animals enter predefined exclusion zones, the system enables offshore operators to make informed decisions and implement timely mitigation measures, such as delaying or modifying construction activities. 
The project therefore supports both marine conservation objectives and the sustainable expansion of offshore renewable energy infrastructure.
 

Centre for Decarbonisation and Offshore Renewable Energy 

In response to climate change imperatives, we are bringing together a critical mass of leading research and expertise from across the University of Plymouth. Through co-creation and collaboration with partners from business, government and key communities from across the globe, the Centre aims to be a beacon for the University’s whole-system transdisciplinary approach to solutions-oriented research, accelerating sustainable developments in decarbonisation and renewable energy.
Centre for Decarbonisation and Offshore Renewable Energy