Thomas Folegot’s Post

In a few short hours, I’ll be setting sail on a weeklong voyage of 1,200 nautical miles from New Zealand to Tonga  I may be unplugging from my emails for a couple of weeks, but the trip is more than just a holiday. I’m taking part in an oceanic scientific research project - one of the first and largest of its kind - to help gather ocean samples that could unlock some of the mysteries of the furthest reaches of our blue planet. Citizens of the Sea is an incredible initiative, which connects sailors like me to researchers and scientists in a way never before possible. We aim to create a vivid picture of the ecosystems and migration patterns of sea creatures, marine life and plankton through the project. Until now, it’s been extremely difficult and expensive for scientists to gather significant sample sizes to analyse the DNA traces of what lies beneath the deep blue pacific. With Citizens of the Sea, sailors like me are given the latest digital tools, state-of-the-art devices and guidance to safely collect, store and upload seawater samples for laboratory testing. We’ll also be mapping underwater reefs to create 3D models, record biogeochemical data (try saying that three times fast!) and reporting richer data more cost effectively than has ever been possible before. In the context of climate change, understanding the ocean’s universe of tiny ecosystems is critical and could have existential consequences for humanity. There’s still so much about our home that we don’t know. That’s why I’m proud to be taking part in this project, contributing valuable data for climate-related impact assessments that will inform strategies to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems. I’m already excited to report back, but until then, wish me fair winds. #oceans #research #marineecosystems

📣 NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration and International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) have confirmed the 4th Global Coral Bleaching Event, marking the second occurrence in the last 10 years.   At the UN Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona, we heard from Steven Thur, Assistant Administrator at NOAA Research, about the 4th Global Coral Bleaching event and how the NOAA Coral Reef Watch alert levels were forced to change. From February 2023 to April 2024, significant coral bleaching has been documented in at least 53 countries and territories in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres of each major ocean basin.   Bleaching must be confirmed within each Ocean basin to make a final determination of a global bleaching event. Reports have now been confirmed of widespread bleaching across the Caribbean, Western Australia, Eastern Tropical Pacific and South Pacific, parts of the Western Indian Ocean, off the western coast of Indonesia, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Gulf of Aden.   As the world’s oceans continue to warm, coral bleaching is becoming more frequent and severe.   Global bleaching events do not affect all coral reefs equally and require a suite of global, regional, and local interventions. Where coral bleaching results in mortality, especially on a widespread scale, it impacts economies, livelihoods, food security, and more.   However, it is important to remember that coral bleaching does not always lead to coral death. Rather, if the stress driving the bleaching diminishes, corals can recover, with reefs maintaining their biodiversity and continuing to provide the ecosystem services that we rely on.   This underscores the importance of regularly monitoring coral reef ecosystems, not only during bleaching events. Importantly, addressing a global event like this requires global action grounded in scientific and technological advancements. Including and advancing science and technology in coral reef conservation efforts is crucial for early detection, understanding, and mitigation of coral bleaching events. By leveraging innovative solutions and international collaboration, we can work towards preserving coral reefs and the myriad benefits they provide to marine biodiversity and human societies. At CORDAP, we will continue to contribute to upscaling science and technology to secure a safe future for corals worldwide.

Underwater noise monitoring of sea forests in Portugal 🌊   In the framework of the #BlueForests project, WavEC Offshore Renewables, in collaboration with Polytechnic of Leiria and Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), has been conducting underwater acoustic monitoring of sea forests habitats. The aim is to assess the potential of these ecosystems to attenuate underwater noise generated from anthropogenic activities.   In #Peniche, WavEC team and MARE - Polytechnic of Leiria monitored two locations, one with kelp forest and one with no kelp coverage. The first survey was conducted in summer 2022, and two additional surveys were conducted last year, one in spring and one in summer. This allows for a comprehensive comparison between areas with and without vegetation, as well as the evaluation of different growth stages of the forest during different seasons.   In #RiaFormosa, monitoring was carried out by WavEC and #CCMAR in three locations. Data was acquired in an area of seagrass meadows composed by Cymodocea nodosa and Zostera marina, an area with no vegetation, and one with invasive Caulerpa prolifera species, that will later be compared.   It is important to note that Ria Formosa and Peniche have highly contrasting hydrodynamic environments with distinct acoustic propagation properties, thus allowing for robust characterisation of sound levels in different settings.   This monitoring effort will contribute to a better understanding of the uncertainties surrounding underwater noise propagation in vegetated seafloor forest habitats. Ultimately, it will help determine how reforestation efforts in these ecosystems can mitigate anthropogenic noise and reduce its potential harmful effects on marine life.   Find out more about BlueForests 👉 https://lnkd.in/g3d9gq7h Find out more about WavEC’s contribution to the project 👉 https://lnkd.in/dFzt72EG   Video 👉 https://lnkd.in/dUHHUB8i   EEA Grants Portugal | EEA and Norway Grants | DGPM - Directorate General for Maritime Policy #EEAGrants #EEAGrantsPT #EEANorwayGrants #CrescimentoAzul #BlueGrowth #DGPM #Ambiente #Environment #underwaternoise #reforestation

An overview of the impacts of the recent mass bleaching event in the AIMS 2024 Survey Report. The report highlights not only the extremity of the recent marine heatwave but also the slight increase in hard coral cover in some areas. However, it is improtant to remember that this increase in coral cover is largely as a result of the fast recovery of Acropora. Acropora is faster to recover from disturbances, but is also more susceptible to bleaching, wave damage and predation from COTS, meaning that recovery can easily be lost if disturbances occur in close succession. Future predictions for increased frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves indicate that reefs dominated by Acropora are at high risk of damage and mortality. While the report is an important tool for managing bleaching and recovery, I wonder if we will reach a point where it also reflects the risk of the loss of coral diversity? As large boulder and plate corals take longer to grow and recover, I imagine they must compete for substrate with the increase in Acropora cover. As we see in terrestrial ecosystems, loss of biodiversity is a huge risk to the entire ecosystem. Hopefully we will learn more about the impact of these extreme disturbances on coral species richness as more data is published to the public.

Underwater noise pollution causes significant threat to marine mammals in a variety of ways. One suggestion WWF makes is to develop quieting technology to use in the oil and gas drilling and exploration industries. ISS Flowthrough bubble barriers mitigate the sound and vibrations generated. Bubble curtains have shown to be successful in protecting aquatic life from piling and blasting impacts, while maintaining efficient construction schedules. https://lnkd.in/e_-Bf8wy #marineconservation #protectouroceans #noisepollution #waterpollution #oceanpollution

🌍 This World Migratory Bird Day, let's remember that the skies and seas are shared homes 🐦🌊 At Whale Seeker, we're committed to actively protecting marine life. Our pioneering AI solutions—Möbius, Möbius Observer, and Arc—are at the forefront of safeguarding seabirds and marine mammals. Dive deeper into our solutions at the link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/eh7pRiey As we champion wind energy, and other environmentally-friendly initiatives, our technology ensures that sustainability never comes at the cost of the vibrant ecosystems we cherish. #TechForGood #ArtificialIntelligence #EnvironmentalSustainability #MarineConservation #PositiveImpact #sdg13 #sdg14 #WhaleSeeker #WorldMigratoryBirdDay #MarineConservation #CleanEnergy

🪸Mapping coral reef habitats to enhance reef restoration Baby coral need a hard structure to settle on so they can grow and flourish. Rubble and sand don’t cut it. Whilst turf algae compete with baby coral, vying for the same spot on the reef bottom. Finding the ideal location is an important consideration when designing reef restoration projects to maximise the survival of corals. Current models used to map coral reef habitats don’t include many of the key habitat attributes that corals need to survive. In a new study, AIMS scientists have developed an advanced remote sensing model using data from the Sentinel-2 satellite to more accurately map habitat on the ocean floor and identify locations where corals have the highest chance to grow and thrive. “It does that by undertaking a careful assessment of the environment and by understanding the drivers of coral recruitment and survival across multiple scales,” said Dr Ben Radford, lead author of the study. 🔗 Learn more: https://bit.ly/3AuNQtY 📃 Read the paper: https://bit.ly/4dsmza4 Climate change is the greatest threat to coral reefs. Modelling shows that reef interventions are likely to be required in addition to emissions reduction and reef management to ensure coral reefs survive into the future. This research was funded by AIMS and Woodside Energy Ltd as Operator for and on behalf of the Browse Joint Venture (BJV). The research was a collaboration between AIMS and The University of Western Australia. 📸: Scott Reef from Sentinel-2 satellite #SentinelSatellite #ReefRestoration The UWA Oceans Institute

This is just atrocious Australian Institute of Marine Science Your new research was funded by fossil fuel giant Woodside Energy who are currently pushing to get government approval to develop this exact reef into the largest new gas field in Australia. To turn the pristine Scott Reef into an industrial gas zone! This research is simply greenwashing and will be used by Woodside to further their lies that they can extract the gas “safely” from Scott Reef. Our coral reef systems won’t survive if companies like Woodside keep building new fossil fuel projects! Shameful! Australian Institute of Marine Science The UWA Oceans Institute #StopWoodside #SaveScottReef #GetFossilFuelsOutOfMarineScience

🌍 Satellites: Guardians of Our Environment 🛰️ In the realm of ecological engineering, satellites are indispensable. They provide critical data for monitoring deforestation, tracking wildlife, and assessing the health of ecosystems. By offering real-time insights and high-resolution imagery, satellites empower us to make informed decisions for environmental protection. From mapping species distribution to managing water resources, their role is pivotal in preserving our planet. Let’s harness this technology to build a sustainable future! 🌱 #ManoubaSchoolofEngineering #EcologicalEngineering #SatelliteTechnology

The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project has increased its ocean floor map with 4.34 million square kilometres of new data – or an area the size of the European Union. This latest figure of 26.1% mapped is the latest in the global effort to uncover Earth’s final frontier – discoveries that are essential for realizing sustainable ocean management. “Seabed mapping has proven to be a powerful tool in advancing our knowledge of marine ecosystems and biodiversity, and the impressive discoveries made this year alone highlight the critical importance of our mission,” said Jamie McMichael-Phillips MIOD FCMI FIMarEST, director, Seabed 360. “Commendable progress has been made since Seabed 2030’s inception in 2017, with over 94 million square kilometres of bathymetric data acquired through global partnerships, data mobilisation, and advancements in technological innovation, but much of the ocean still remains a mystery.” Pioneering discoveries In the past year alone, ocean research has led to the characterization of the largest known deep-sea coral reef habitat off the southeast U.S. coast spanning over 6.4 million acres on the Blake Plateau. The multi-year campaign to map and explore this region was led by Seabed 2030 partner National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ocean Exploration, in collaboration with a host of other government, academic and private sector collaborators. Read the full story on Maritime Journal; https://lnkd.in/et-V-QrY