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Marine Beacon: A Spotlight for Marine Biodiversity

Marine Beacon: A Spotlight for Marine Biodiversity

January 31, 2025

Marine Beacon is a ground-breaking initiative launched in February 2024, funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme. This four-and-a-half-year project aims to address the impact of bycatch on the decline of marine biodiversity by producing the knowledge and tools to effectively reduce the bycatch and subsequent mortality of protected, endangered, and threatened species (PETS) in fisheries across the Atlantic and European waters. Marine Beacon researchers and partners plan to develop effective strategies to minimise or eliminate the interactions of bycaught species with fishing gear as well as reducing post-interaction mortality.

Dr. Julia Calderwood

Dr. Julia Calderwood, the Marine Beacon Project Coordinator, highlighted that the project aims “to improve knowledge on where PETS species are, where they are at risk, and is looking to effectively reduce bycatch through tools, technologies, and different management approaches”. She emphasised that large international projects, such as Marine Beacon, provide opportunities for international stakeholders to work together ensuring real-world applicability and feasibility.  Project innovations range from cutting-edge AI monitoring tools to statistical models for spatio-temporal risk assessment​.

Marine Beacon brings together 21 partners from nine countries, including researchers, technology developers, and fisheries experts across case studies ranging from coastal to oceanic ecosystems across the Atlantic Ocean. These ecosystems encompass multiple fisheries and bycatch PETS in a variety of marine habitats, oceanographic regimes, and species assemblages. Specifically, the seven case studies encompass Greenlandic waters, Icelandic waters, Azorean waters, Celtic seas, The Greater North Sea, The Bay of Biscay, and Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. These case studies will contribute to the European Union’s goal of eliminating or significantly reducing bycatch by 2030 for marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds and sensitive or endangered fish species such as sharks and rays.

As the project moves into its second year, Dr. Calderwood is excited about “all of the work coming together and getting the chance to work with lots of great partners across the globe”. Future steps for the project include working on next generation modelling and species identification on board vessels through using advanced AI and molecular technologies. The tools and methodologies developed by Marine Beacon are expected to leave a legacy beyond the project’s duration, contributing to healthier seas and more sustainable fisheries​.