Scientific advances and innovation

  • Innovative coupling between imaging (ImageSonde) and acoustics (Ec(h)osonde) for the monitoring of RME installations impacts on micronekton and jellyfishes
  • Data collection to study the interaction between RME and fisheries
  • Development and use of efficient machine learning tools and methods to automatize the analysis of imaging data.

Expected technical and economic impact

  • Development of an integrated methods for the monitoring of RME impacts on micronektonic and gelatinous organisms (fish larvae and jellyfishes) by coupling acoustics (Ec(h)osonde) and imaging (ImageSonde).
  • Proof of concept for a technically robust, scientifically efficient and economically competitive monitoring method thanks to the partial automation of acquisition and treatment of data.

Key project milestones

  • October 2017 - Start – Ec(h)osonde survey
  • May & June 2018 - PELGAS & PHENIX surveys
  • October 2018 - Ec(h)osonde survey
  • Autumn 2018 - First results
  • Winter 2018-2019 - First communications
  • Autumn 2019 - Presentation of deliverables

Prospects

The coupling of benchtop imaging and in-situ acoustics in the context of a wired sea bottom observatory development opens the way to a fully integrated sea bottom observatory coupling in-situ imaging, in-situ acoustics and real-time big data fluxes management.

Imaging for analyzing gelatinous plankton and micronekton is already a well-established technique in the academic research community. ImageSonde will be a good demonstrator to validate the transfer of imaging to ecological monitoring in the RME industrial framework.

© Ecotaxa - Picheral M, Colin S, Irisson J-O (2017). EcoTaxa, a tool for the taxonomic classification of images. http://ecotaxa.obs-vlfr.fr.

© Ecotaxa – Picheral M, Colin S, Irisson J-O (2017). EcoTaxa, a tool for the taxonomic classification of images. http://ecotaxa.obs-vlfr.fr.