Advancing Marine Biodiversity Monitoring in the North Sea
Field Research Aboard the RV Simon Stevin
In late May 2025, scientific teams from the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), carried out a joint research campaign aboard the RV Simon Stevin. This collaborative effort, conducted in the southern North Sea, formed part of the wider MARCO-BOLO project, which aims to design a scalable approach for monitoring marine biodiversity and environmental change.
The fieldwork served as a pilot to test how multiple sensing technologies can work together, offering a comprehensive, real-time picture of marine ecosystems.
A Multi-Sensor Strategy in Action
The research team deployed a diverse suite of sensors from both fixed seabed observatories and mobile platforms, including remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and the RV Simon Stevin itself. This combination allowed the team to study life in the sea from microscopic plankton to larger marine mammals.
Acoustic Observation
A range of acoustic devices such as hydrophones, echo sounders, and cetacean loggers was used to detect fish and marine mammals such as harbour porpoises. These tools also captured the underwater soundscape, providing insights into the acoustic environment experienced by marine life.
Visual Monitoring
Imaging systems played a key role:
A plankton imager aboard the RV Simon Stevin recorded detailed images of plankton directly in their natural habitat.
ROV-mounted cameras captured high-definition video of seafloor life, enabling later automated species identification.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) Collection
The team also collected eDNA samples, which contain genetic material shed by organisms into the water. These samples, taken from both fixed and mobile platforms, allowed researchers to identify species present in the area, even those not directly observed.
Videos
Video of a CTD sample collection
Video of a RoCSI mooring deployment