AI Marine Conservation Technology Transforms Ocean Protection Across Latin America

AI marine conservation technology tools demonstrate unprecedented effectiveness in marine resource management.
Reading Time: 3 minutes

AI marine conservation technology tools demonstrate unprecedented effectiveness in marine resource management. Photo by NOAA on Unsplash

Reading Time: 3 minutes

AI marine conservation technology tools demonstrate unprecedented effectiveness in marine resource management.

Advanced AI marine conservation technology is revolutionizing protection efforts across Latin America’s Pacific coast, setting new standards for ocean protection worldwide. Four countries are leveraging artificial intelligence and big data to protect over 2 million square kilometers of ocean ecosystems, implementing one of the most sophisticated marine monitoring systems globally.

The Marine Manager portal, developed by Global Fishing Watch, represents a breakthrough in AI marine conservation technology, combining multiple data streams – from marine species tracking to fishing vessel movements – into an interactive map that helps authorities monitor and protect marine resources in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador. This system stands out among marine protection technologies for its comprehensive integration of diverse data sources and real-time monitoring capabilities.

While other global conservation efforts like Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority use satellite imagery and autonomous underwater vehicles, and the Mediterranean Protected Areas Network (MedPAN) employs traditional radar-based vessel monitoring, the Marine Manager platform distinguishes itself through its advanced AI marine conservation capabilities and seamless regional integration.

The AI marine conservation technology serves the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Conservation Corridor (CMAR), established in 2004 by the four nations. Spanning approximately 2.1 million square kilometers of ocean, this corridor protects one of Earth’s most biodiverse marine regions. The water channels between the protected islands serve as crucial migratory routes for endangered species, including hammerhead sharks, green sea turtles, and humpback whales.

The corridor initially focused on protecting key island ecosystems, each offering unique biodiversity value:

  • Malpelo and Gorgona Islands (Colombia): Malpelo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, hosts the world’s largest congregation of hammerhead sharks and serves as a critical aggregation point for several threatened shark species. Gorgona, known as Colombia’s “Science Island,” provides essential nesting grounds for sea turtles and supports diverse coral reef ecosystems.
  • Coiba Island (Panama): A former penal colony turned national park, Coiba’s isolation has preserved its pristine ecosystems. The island’s protected waters harbor over 700 fish species, making it a vital sanctuary for marine biodiversity in the Eastern Pacific.
  • Galapagos Islands (Ecuador): This renowned archipelago, famous for inspiring Darwin’s theory of evolution, encompasses over 130,000 square kilometers of protected marine area. The islands’ unique confluence of cold and warm ocean currents creates distinct habitats supporting marine species found nowhere else on Earth.
  • Cocos Island (Costa Rica): Located 550 kilometers off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, this UNESCO site serves as a congregation point for large pelagic species, including endangered scalloped hammerhead sharks, rays, and dolphins. Its waters host over 30 endemic fish species.

Recent expansion has increased the number of protected sites from four to ten, making it one of the largest technology-monitored marine conservation networks in the world. The new protected areas include:

  • Colombia’s Yuruparí-Malpelo Integrated Management District, which extends protection beyond Malpelo Island to include crucial deep-sea ecosystems
  • The Northern Pacific Lomas and Hills Integrated Management District protects vital coral and fish habitats
  • Costa Rica’s Bicentennial Marine Management Area, encompassing seamounts and thermal vents that support unique deep-sea communities
  • Ecuador’s Hermandad Marine Reserve bridges critical gaps between existing protected areas and strengthens the corridor’s connectivity

This expanded network creates a more comprehensive protection zone that better reflects the movement patterns of migratory marine species and enhances ecosystem resilience against climate change impacts.

The platform’s AI marine conservation capabilities exceed those of conventional monitoring systems. It incorporates animal telemetry to track sharks, whales, and turtles while mapping underwater features like mountains, corals, and mangroves. Environmental data, including sea temperature and oxygen levels, helps scientists understand climate change impacts on marine ecosystems. Unlike similar systems in the North Atlantic and Pacific regions, which typically focus on single-parameter monitoring, Marine Manager integrates multiple data streams for comprehensive ecosystem assessment.

Early results show promising outcomes that outperform many existing marine protection technologies. In Costa Rica’s Cocos Marine Conservation Area, fishing activity decreased by 91% during the first half of 2024, according to data gathered through the Marine Manager tool – a reduction rate significantly higher than the global average for marine protected areas.

The AI marine conservation initiative supports the global “30×30” agreement, which aims to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. The four nations will present their technological approach to marine conservation at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, showcasing how digital tools can enhance ecosystem protection.

Recent expansions of protected areas include Colombia’s Yuruparí-Malpelo Integrated Management District and Northern Pacific Lomas and Hills Integrated Management District, Costa Rica’s Bicentennial Marine Management Area, and Ecuador’s Hermandad Marine Reserve. These additions strengthen the corridor’s ability to protect marine species that move between different jurisdictions.

The success of Marine Manager’s AI marine conservation technology in the Eastern Pacific demonstrates how innovative solutions can transform conservation from passive designation of protected areas into active, data-driven management of ocean resources, potentially serving as a model for future marine protection initiatives worldwide.

Top 5 Newsletter

The Top 5 Happy Eco News stories delivered to your inbox - every Monday.

Sign up now!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Support Us.

Happy Eco News will always remain free for anyone who needs it. Help us spread the good news about the environment!