Grant to develop a marine observation system

The UI Research Centre of the Westfjords is leading a new research infrastructure project with the aim of improving monitoring and data collection regarding marine ecosystems around Iceland. The project, officially titled Marine Open Observation Network - MOON, was recently awarded a grant from the Infrastructure Fund.

Healthy marine ecosystems are essential for Iceland’s economy and the wellbeing of future generations in Iceland. With growing pressures due to climate change, more diverse exploitation of marine resources and more international commitments, there is an increasing need for robust, efficient, wide-ranging observation of the ocean surrounding Iceland. The goal of the MOON project is to support the next generation of marine research with a focus on efficient, automatic data collection, increased research collaboration, and a secure and open data system developed in partnership with Icelandic e-Research Infrastructure (IREI), which is managed by the UI Division of Information Technology.

The UI Research Centre of the Westfjords, which is part of the UI Institute of Research Centres, is leading the project in close collaboration with several other UI centres, the Marine Research Institute and other institutions across Iceland.

The aims of the project are to:

• Establish automatic, multi-purpose marine observation stations that will collect long-term data on temperature, oceanographic factors, ocean floor types, the movements of fish and marine mammals, etc.
• Make better use of automatic vessels and submarines to collect information in the most cost-efficient way.
• Ensure open access to technology and data for the scientific community, educational institutions and other stakeholders.
• Improve teaching and increase the involvement of students, universities and early-career researchers in marine research using up-to-date and efficient solutions.
• Support the international scientific community to monitor the oceans and ensure that Iceland fulfils its commitments regarding marine research, including UN policy on biodiversity and the Ocean Decade. 

International commitments on ocean observation and conservation

Scientists at UI regional research centres possess a wealth of experience in marine ecosystem research. They have explored topics such as whale movements and ecology, the ecology of juvenile cod in their breeding grounds, the impact of sea lice on wild fish, ocean pollution, the impact of historical cod fishing on stocks, and the impact of new species, e.g. the Atlantic rock crab and flounder, in Icelandic waters. 

 

“MOON will create new opportunities to research changes in the ocean and promote biodiversity. By using the latest technology and a network of research institutes across the country, we will be better equipped for diverse marine research, create more opportunities for teaching and student projects, and raise awareness of the importance of the ocean,” says Guðbjörg Ásta Ólafsdóttir, director of the UI Research Centre of the Westfjords.

She explains that the project is also a response to increased international commitments that Iceland has made regarding research, ocean monitoring and conservation in relation to the UN Convention on Biodiversity. Parties to the Convention have agreed to conserve 30% of the Earth’s seas by 2030. “Meeting targets like this requires significant data collection and follow up with monitoring. This means we need more efficient and automated solutions, as well as increased collaboration. Iceland is a small country, but if we work together we can achieve our goals. It’s like the slogan for the UN Ocean Decade: The science we need for the ocean we want.”

Revolutionising our ability to monitor marine soundscapes around Iceland

Filipa Samarra, director of the UI Research Centre of the Westman Islands, is among the other representatives of UI’s regional research centres involved in the research. She and her colleagues have concentrated their research efforts on social behaviour in whales, acoustic communication, habitat use and ecology. 

“The MOON project will revolutionise our ability to monitor the acoustic marine environment (or soundscapes) around Iceland and, crucially, make assessments of biodiversity using acoustics. Many invertebrate, fish and marine mammal species that live in our oceans communicate using sound and can be monitored using Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM). We aim to develop a PAM network using hydrophones that will be deployed at key sites around Iceland and monitor various species occurring in these environments year-round. Because PAM can be used over long time scales and regardless of weather conditions, unlike other monitoring techniques such as surveys that rely on favourable weather, it will significantly increase our understanding of trends in the occurrence of various species in these areas throughout the year and between years,” says Filipa.