PML and partners complete successful autonomous sampling mission in Plymouth Sound
Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) have completed a successful sampling campaign in Plymouth Sound – the natural harbour located on England’s south-west coast, adjacent to the city of Plymouth – using the uncrewed surface vessel (USV) AutoNaut Pioneer. The mission formed part of the EU-funded MARCO-BOLO (MARine COastal BiOdiversity Long-term Observations) project, which focuses on advancing biodiversity monitoring in coastal and marine environments across Europe.
Autonomous systems offer a cost-effective way to observe the marine environment in high detail, while also supporting the transition towards net-zero oceanographic operations. The Pioneer – a five-metre AutoNaut USV propelled by wave motion and powered by 300-watt solar panels – carried the most advanced scientific payload ever deployed on an AutoNaut platform. Equipped with a suite of state-of-the-art sensors, the vessel collected data independently as it self-navigated the area.
Autonomous sampling breakthrough
Over 26 hours of sampling across four days in Plymouth Sound, the USV gathered plankton imagery using a UVP-6 Plankton Imager, while environmental DNA (eDNA) samples were autonomously triggered by real-time chlorophyll readings via a RoSCI eDNA sampler. This is believed to be one of the first deployments of a RoSCI eDNA sampler on an autonomous surface vessel in Europe – a significant step that highlights the growing potential of uncrewed systems to perform complex biodiversity monitoring tasks with minimal human intervention.
The mission marks a key achievement for Work Package 4 – Mapping Biodiversity with Autonomous Systems within the MARCO-BOLO project. This work package aims to enable next-generation technologies for biodiversity observations in coastal and marine regions.
Professor James Fishwick, project lead at PML, said: “This mission showcases how autonomous technologies can revolutionize the way we study our marine environments – we can only protect what we understand. By integrating real-time sensing with biodiversity sampling, we can capture vital data on ecosystem changes with greater precision and frequency.”
Next-generation observation network
“This latest PML and NOC mission contributes to MARCO-BOLO’s efforts to validate and refine the use of eDNA for biodiversity assessment, developing tools and technologies that will form part of a sustainable, long-term observation network to support the biodiversity of European waters,” Fishwick added.
Dr Julie Robidart, lead for Work Package 4, said: “This demonstration combines non-invasive, multisensor biodiversity observations with the AutoNaut wave-powered vehicle, to provide carbon-neutral, detailed maps of coastal ecosystems. It furthers the state of the art by using networked sensor data streams to decide where and when to sample, without human interaction. Smart technologies like these can decrease power requirements, thus increasing endurance of autonomous systems.”
Funded through the EU Horizon Europe programme, with support from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the €7.3 million MARCO-BOLO project brings together 28 organizations from research, industry, government and the non-profit sector. Led by EMBRC-ERIC (France), the four-year initiative aims to strengthen marine, coastal and freshwater biodiversity observation, enhance decision-making and contribute to restoring ocean health.
