On 15th October 2025, the first webinar in the MOD Alliance series took place, hosted by our sister project DiverSea. As part of this exciting new collaboration between MARCO-BOLO, OBAMA-NEXT, and DiverSea, the webinar series aims to highlight innovative methods and tools for observing and mapping biodiversity in coastal and marine ecosystems.
MOD Alliance Webinar#1 Highlights:
The session was presented by Dr Eric Raes, a leading marine ecologist from the OceanOmics programme, an initiative by the Minderoo Foundation focused on safeguarding marine biodiversity through cutting-edge genomics techniques. Dr Raes emphasised the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) as a powerful tool for monitoring marine wildlife and tracking biodiversity changes across large scales.
Key topics from the webinar included:
- The role of eDNA in monitoring the effectiveness of the global “30 by 30” initiative, which seeks to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
- Practical examples from Australian marine parks, showcasing how eDNA can identify ecologically significant areas and track shifts in species distribution.
- Challenges in integrating eDNA into policy frameworks, with a particular focus on communication between scientists and policymakers, and building capacity for its broader use.
Why Watch the Webinar Recording?
The recording offers valuable insights into the application of eDNA for biodiversity monitoring, particularly in marine ecosystems. You will learn how the OceanOmics programme is using genomic tools to advance conservation and management strategies, with a strong focus on real-world application and policy integration. The lively Q&A session also provides a deeper exploration of how eDNA data can complement existing methods, as well as the challenges of communicating its potential to stakeholders and policymakers.
For those interested in marine biodiversity, this webinar offers an insightful look into the potential of eDNA and the latest innovations in biodiversity monitoring. Feel free to take a look at the recording to explore how these approaches could contribute to safeguarding our oceans.
Stay tuned for more webinars from the MOD Alliance, with the next session scheduled for early 2026 and hosted by MARCO-BOLO!