From Surface to Seafloor: MARCO-BOLO’s Marine Biodiversity Observing Toolbox
MARCO‑BOLO Work Package 6 is developing a series of Knowledge Transfer (KT) assets designed to translate key project outcomes into accessible, actionable messages for targeted stakeholder communities. Co‑developed with the relevant project Work Packages, each asset focuses on maximising impact by communicating project results, recommendations and evidence that support policy, innovation and uptake beyond the project lifetime.
The Knowledge Transfer Series supports dissemination across the marine science, policy and Blue Economy communities and contributes to wider European ambitions, including the European Ocean Pact and OceanEye.
Knowledge Transfer Asset 1
Advancing Integrated Marine & Coastal Biodiversity Observations for the European Ocean Pact
Integrated sensors can offer a more holistic way to monitor marine (and coastal) biodiversity, supporting more traditional or long-term monitoring endeavours. This first Knowledge Transfer asset, based on the work done by Work Package 4 (Mapping Biodiversity with Autonomous Systems), showcases the integration of innovative marine in situ technologies and the business value of investing in marine biodiversity monitoring.
To improve and optimise methods for monitoring marine biodiversity, MARCO-BOLO and project partners (VLIZ, NOC, DTU) implemented innovative technologies and software for high-resolution mapping of underwater pelagic and benthic environments, enabling accurate and quantitative biodiversity assessments. Multiple sensing technologies were tested concurrently in a joint research campaign during a pilot study at the Grafton Site in the North Sea in May 2025, which assessed sensor performance, limitations, effectiveness and complementarities on both fixed seabed observatories and mobile platforms, also complementing the ongoing long-term biodiversity monitoring efforts.
Integrated systems combine multiple in situ observing technologies, which are increasingly shaping the emerging ocean observation activities of the Blue Economy. Biodiversity observations form a cornerstone of the marine knowledge base underpinning EU ocean policy and global commitments, yet the European market for marine biodiversity observation technologies remains relatively small. This reflects the complexity, cost and investment risk associated with developing and scaling biodiversity sensors and sampling solutions.
MARCO-BOLO directly bridges the marine biodiversity technology ‘gap’ by advancing technology readiness and demonstrating value through real-world trials. Growing demand for biodiversity data – driven by regulation and new applications such as marine protected area identification and blue carbon mapping – is creating momentum for public-private partnerships to jointly observe, map, and assess Europe’s seas and coasts.
It is clear from the EU ocean-related policy drivers and from the emerging business cases and increasing interest from the Blue Economy that marine and coastal biodiversity observations are no longer a nice-to-have, but rather an essential component of Europe’s strategic Ocean Observation capability.
Come back later to see more items to be added to the Knowledge Transfer Series of the MARCO-BOLO project