Our eight test sites support a wide range of deployments and devices – everything from novel sensors and marine coatings, to new mooring systems for floating wind turbines and tidal turbines. Since Spring, we’ve been delighted to support Welsh environmental monitoring organisation PEBL, with three significant deployments at our Dale Roads and East Pickard Bay open water sites.
PEBL offers environmental monitoring tools and services for marine operators and researchers. Their mission is to make ocean data more accessible, provide actionable insights, deepen our scientific understanding and ultimately safeguard marine ecosystems, avoiding any negative impacts on marine habitats and species.
In recent months, through three significant deployments, the PEBL team has been testing novel remote monitoring systems.
Below, Christian Berger, Co-Founder at PEBL outlines what each deployment entailed and gives us an insight into what they discovered.
We’re excited to continue working with PEBL in the future and look forward to exploring their findings.
April 2024: deployment 1
Our first deployment in April 2024 at the META site in Dale Roads, Milford Haven Waterway, aimed to establish baseline data on local biodiversity. We began by deploying an Ocean Observatory Frame on loan from MEECE (Marine Energy Engineering Centre of Excellence). This frame was equipped with two wide-spectrum passive acoustic monitoring devices, manufactured by RTSYS, to capture data on cetacean species and vessel noise.
The frame also included an F-POD ultrasound hydrophone (manufactured by Chelonia Ltd) for dolphin detection, PEBL’s SubCam and SubLux systems (underwater cameras and lights), and a GrowProbe, a multi-parameter environmental sensor, also by PEBL. These instruments provided visual data on fish, crabs, and other mobile species, while the environmental sensors contextualised the acoustic and camera observations.
The frame was assembled at Robust Boat’s yard in St. Davids and the frame was craned onto our vessel, Car-y-Mor. We then deployed the frame at the META test site, ensuring optimal placement for stable and accurate data collection.
In addition to the frame we also deployed the SeaLens 1.0 Data Buoy, also manufactured by PEBL, at the same site. This buoy records above-surface video and gathers environmental data at a one-metre depth, transmitting live updates to shore. The buoy complements the data collected by the frame, offering a broader perspective on the marine environment.
Finally, for comparison and to test different equipment settings, we deployed a third unit—a probe string. This string consisted of another FPOD reference acoustic logger, a PEBL SubCAM camera focused on the seabed, and an additional PEBL GrowProbe multi-parameter sensor. This setup provided an alternative data set, allowing us to validate and refine the measurements taken by the primary frame.
Watch PEBL’s short film from Deployment 1:
June 2024: Deployment 2
Two months after the initial deployment in June, we returned to the META site in Dale Roads for a follow-up mission to retrieve all the deployed equipment, recover the data, and inspect each unit for any signs of corrosion or damage.
Upon retrieval, we noted significant fouling on all units near the surface, especially the SeaLens 1.0 Data Buoy. The multi-parameter sensors on the SeaLens were heavily coated, which impacted the environmental data quality. Despite this, the buoy continued to function, though its performance was affected by the marine growth.
In contrast, the underwater cameras mounted on the seabed frame showed minimal fouling. The SubCam units, despite being submerged for 52 days, still produced clear and usable footage. The placement of these cameras on the seabed likely shielded them from the intense biofouling experienced by the surface units.
Once the equipment was retrieved, we carefully cleaned each unit, removing the accumulated marine growth. We then swapped out batteries and downloaded the SD cards, securing the valuable data collected over the two-month period. The data encompassed acoustic recordings, environmental measurements, and video footage, all of which will be analysed to further our understanding of the local marine environment.
With the equipment cleaned and maintained, we reconditioned each unit for potential redeployment. This included replacing batteries, ensuring sensors were recalibrated, and preparing new SD cards for data storage.
July 2024: deployment 3
At the end of July, we conducted our third deployment at Meta. The primary goal of this mission was to upgrade our monitoring capabilities by replacing the SeaLens 1.0 system with the newly developed SeaLens 2.0. Additionally, we retrieved all previously deployed equipment for maintenance and deployed new sampling devices to enhance our biodiversity assessments.
The SeaLens 2.0 system, an advanced version of the original SeaLens, features several key upgrades. Solar panels were added to enable the system to function autonomously for extended periods, powered entirely by renewable energy. We also upgraded the multi-parameter sensor and installed an updated 360° camera system, both manufactured by PEBL. This new setup enhances our ability to capture comprehensive environmental data and high-quality visual footage and provide continuous monitoring of the site.
In addition to the SeaLens upgrade, we recovered the ocean observatory frame and the probe string equipment, which included acoustic loggers, cameras, and GrowProbe sensors.
To further expand our understanding of local biodiversity, we deployed an eDNA (environmental DNA) water sampler and collected sediment grab samples using a Van Veen grab at another META site in East Pickard Bay, approximately 1.5km from Dale roads. The sediment samples will be sent to a processing lab for DNA sequencing, which will identify traces of DNA in the water and sediment, helping us detect and establish the presence of various species in the local environment.
With the SeaLens 2.0 in place we are now able to access live remote data. In addition with all other equipment retrieved and serviced, we are well-positioned for continued monitoring at the Meta site. The data from this deployment, combined with the upcoming eDNA analysis, will provide a more detailed picture of the local marine ecosystem.
