Innovative technology for sustainable management of complex marine ecosystems

Sustainable ocean management requires knowledge for well grounded decisions.

However, rapid changes in ecosystems and human activities constitute an important challenge to traditional ways of collecting, analyzing and distributing timely and relevant knowledge.

This project builds on the notion that new technologies can be an important part in the transition towards a knowledge-intensive natural resource management.

In this project, the problem owner, the County Administrative Board of Gotland, together with the academic partner, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), will develop a model where future knowledge requirements for marine ecosystem management are fulfilled through automated systems for marine data collection, analyses using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and knowledge sharing using digital platforms.

The project builds on previously implemented pilot studies of data collection systems including miniature data loggers, sailing drones and automatized video monitoring.

The project includes three studies: (1) Mapping of future knowledge requirements, (2) Identification of legal and ethical aspects, and (3) Planning of an AI-driven knowledge generation program. The project will establish a network of actors relevant for an implementation project in the area around Gotland.

The project will also include planning of a potential upscaling of the concept for other areas and knowledge requirements.