Cameras, Computers and Collaboration: Cutting Edge Approaches to Marine Fish Monitoring
"The need to understand dynamics of fish and other marine taxa has never been greater." — Dr. Colin Bates, Senior Research Scientist, Cascadia Seaweed
Around the world, recognition is emerging that well-designed seaweed farms may serve as regenerative habitats, supporting biodiversity and enhancing ecosystem resilience. As the largest cultivator of kelp in North America, Cascadia felt it was important to investigate further.
In 2021, we launched an R&D effort with the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BSCRIF) to verify whether our low-impact kelp farms had a major positive impact on the environment. Specifically, whether our farms were being used as habitat by salmon and other fish species — an important question in light of BC's diminishing wild canopy-forming kelps.
One exciting outcome of this work? A new, low-cost tool to monitor underwater biodiversity: programmable cameras (LookSeas) powered by machine learning that track marine life over time. Paired with an online platform for visualizing change, it's making high-resolution ocean data more accessible—and more actionable—than ever before. Is your organization exploring questions around biodiversity or habitat use? Our Nature-based Solutions team would be glad to connect—our tools may offer a cost-effective, time-efficient way to support your goals.
Write to us at cnbs@cascadiaseaweed.com and check out our other Nature-based Solutions Services here.
A photo essay about the BCSRIF-funded project evaluating our kelp farms as habitat for fish communities was published in the journal, 'Fisheries' from the American Fisheries Society: “Cameras, Computers, and Collaboration: Cutting Edge Approaches to Marine Fish Monitoring.”
At Cascadia Seaweed, we partner with coastal First Nations, including the Ahousaht and Uchucklesaht Nations, to cultivate seaweed on nearshore farms. With funding from the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BSCRIF) and Mitacs, we have utilized and contributed to open-source technologies to monitor fish population dynamics in and around these farms.
“Beyond helping us better understand habitat provision by seaweed farms, we’re excited about the potential of these technologies to support more accessible, robust, and accurate underwater video monitoring, which can help us more effectively monitor rapidly changing oceans,” says Colin Bates, primary project investigator.
The American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world's oldest and largest organization dedicated to advancing fisheries science and strengthening the profession. We are incredibly proud to be featured in this esteemed publication.
The complete photo essay is available for purchase here: https://lnkd.in/gZDFMpEY
All media inquiries can be directed to erin@cascadiaseaweed.com
