As floating wind turbines and tidal turbines tap into marine renewable energy, protecting the surrounding marine life must be considered for sustainable operations.

 

By Nora von Xylander
Marine Biodiversity and Sustainability Scientist
Tunley Environmental

Innovations in ocean tech supported key advancements in 2024 to sustainably manage our oceans. Developing technologies include acoustic monitoring for marine mammal protection and seaweed farming as a natural method to mitigate climate change.

Ocean Energy and Marine Mammal Protection

The push for marine renewable energy is vital to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and combat climate change. Innovative tech designs, including those for floating wind farms and tidal turbines, are being developed to reduce ecological disruption, maximize energy efficiency and foster sustainable coastal economies.

For example, the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) at the University of St. Andrews has been instrumental in advancing marine research to assess the impacts of renewable energy structures on marine mammals. This ensures that the transition to cleaner energy remains aligned with marine conservation goals.

Marine mammals rely on vocalizations to communicate, navigate and locate prey through water. SMRU Instrumentation’s specialized tagging systems and open-source software for underwater sound monitoring, known as PAMGuard, enable real-time tracking of marine mammal movements and habitat needs, thus providing insight into the potential environmental impacts of marine renewable energy technologies.

The likelihood of collision between marine mammals and renewable energy infrastructure such as tidal turbines has led SMRU to innovate multibeam sonar systems. The sonar, along with the deployment of ultrasonic hydrophone arrays, has demonstrated the ability to detect and track marine mammals in 3D near tidal turbines. The systems, which the U.K. government will use for conservation, could reduce potential hazards from renewable energy structures and inform policy development for renewable energy expansion.

Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is now being used with artificial intelligence (AI) to identify species-specific acoustic signals, such as those from bottlenose dolphins and killer whales. PAM technologies range from hydrophones towed behind boats to stationary recorders on the seafloor to more recent advancements using distributed acoustic sensing along existing underwater fiber-optic cables to detect whales, shipping noise, or seismic activity.

It is the hope of the researchers that temporary shutdowns in offshore energy operations informed by PAM and multibeam sonar systems could reduce negative impacts on marine mammals, similar to how enforced vessel slowdowns in protected areas have reduced vessel collisions with and harmful noise impacts on marine mammals.

Sustainable Fishing, Aquaculture

Smart fishing gear and non-lethal acoustic deterrent devices for aquaculture are being developed to support sustainable practices.

As entanglement in fishing nets remains a leading cause of mortality for small cetaceans, smart fishing gear with the ability to track marine mammals using PAM technology is showing promise to minimize bycatch.

In the aquaculture industry, GenusWave’s Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology (TAST) is emerging as a potential alternative to traditional acoustic deterrent devices (ADD) to prevent predation. Unlike ADDs, TAST, a PAM technology, does not cause hearing damage in marine mammals. It records vocalizing cetaceans, the natural sounds of other marine life, and human-made noises from shipping and industrial activities, which provides a holistic soundscape to allow for environmental monitoring.

As we move into 2025, integrating AI-driven analysis with expanding PAM capabilities is a promising path forward for more sustainable industry practices that align with international goals for resilient ocean ecosystems.

Blue Carbon Technologies

Coastal marine habitats such as kelp forests and seagrass beds play key roles in carbon sequestration, provide substantial potential for reducing atmospheric CO2, and contribute to nutrient cycling and support for marine biodiversity. As a natural solution to climate change, initiatives such as regenerative seaweed farming are gaining traction globally, with new technologies showing promise for enhancing scalability and efficiency.

Algapelago is a seaweed farming company that plans for a project in June 2025 in North Devon, England, with a production potential of up to 40 fresh tonnes of kelp. It is uniquely engineered for high-energy conditions and offshore scaling, with automated seeding and harvesting capability. By using the Norwegian company Arctic Seaweed’s innovative maritime farming technology, Algapelago aims to answer critical questions about the scalability, impacts, and natural capital value of regenerative ocean farming over four years with the simultaneous cultivation of mussels and kelp at scale.

“We are excited to deploy this new rig, as it will accelerate the development of the Blue Forest initiative,” said Algapelago’s co-founder and ocean adventurer Olly Hicks. “This effort will help establish strong future credit markets, promote ecological improvements and create large-scale opportunities within the blue economy.”

As we look ahead into 2025, regenerative seaweed farming is expected to expand, helping create resilient marine environments that contribute positively to the blue economy and global climate goals.

Conclusion

The intersection of sustainability science and ocean technology has the potential to reshape marine conservation with innovation. By investing in these technologies and fostering collaborative approaches, we can build resilient marine ecosystems that support biodiversity, climate stability and sustainable resource use. The achievements of 2024 illustrate what is possible when interdisciplinary science meets visionary technology, setting the stage for an even more impactful 2025.

References

For a list of references, contact: catherinefoister@tunley-environmental.com.

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