ASTRIIS to assist the studying of large fish and cetaceans with non-invasive underwater device

Although significant improvements in marine data acquisition and processing have been made during the past decades, there is still lack of information and knowledge on in-situ observation infrastructures, as well as on new algorithms built in Earth observation applications retrieved from various platforms. These existing gaps of information about the various marine environments have a negative impact on the sustainable growth of key sectors with high development potential and value creation in the sphere of the blue economy, such as tourism, offshore renewables, and aquaculture along with marine safety.

ASTRIIS is a mobilizing project that intends to mitigate insufficiencies by developing technical and scientific knowledge to conceive and implement a batch of information services and products portfolio emerging from data collected in situ or via remote sensing, combined with forecasting numerical modelling.

astriis - Atlantic Sustainability Through Remote and In-situ Integrated Solutions
How can ASTRIIS contribute to close information gaps about the ocean and marine biodiversity? © +ATLANTIC

 

The ASTRIIS mission focuses on market needs within the scope of regulation of the maritime space, and on the sustainable exploitation of the oceans and coastal zones. The project also aims to equip society with digital products for training and educational purposes. It is thus intended to contribute to the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, through the SDG 14 “Life Below Water” and the UN Ocean Decade, by contributing to overcome some of the challenges associated to the protection of the world’s ocean and the boosting of the global blue economy.

A good example of such contributions deals with the ongoing ASTRIIS work on in-situ observations, monitoring and inspection services, which is led by CEiiA. The aim is to develop and manufacture a new generation of in-situ data acquisition systems fostering the sustainability of the ocean in several application areas. The project will thus contribute to further align the blue economy with 5 of the 17 SDGs.

Among these systems are the marine animal tagging devices, which will be equipped with a bunch of sensors capable of recording physiological and biological data as well as live sharing the tag positioning and the corresponding tagged species. These tagging devices, based on a non-invasive and self-recovery concept, will also integrate sensors for blood oxygenation levels and heart-beating measurements to be deployed on fishes and cetaceans.

 

mosaic with serveral animal tag images
Preliminary design configuration of the animal tagging device. © CEiiA

ASTRIIS is currently working on the mechanical development of the tagging devices, from the materials choice to its manufacturing. During this product development cycle, the ASTRIIS team will be responsible for the following technical areas:

  • Requirements and specifications definition along with partners and end-users
  • Materials choice, rated up to 2000-meter depth
  • Instrumentation definition
  • Mechanical design, from conceptual to detailed designs
  • Weight and buoyancy calculations
  • Hydrostatics and hydrodynamics studies

 

Product development cycle followed within ASTRIIS for the animal tags. © CEiiA

 

The ASTRIIS consortium believes that these devices will contribute to increment the knowledge on various marine wildlife endangered species as well as on their habitats, in a harmless and sustainable manner. Stay tuned to the ASTRIIS website and LinkedIn for further developments on this and other ongoing project activities.