Shark spotted with AI in drone video

10/10/2024

In August 2024, a surprising discovery was made by the researchers at the Spatial Marine Lab during routine monitoring of maritime activities in the waters of the Atlantic Islands National Park, Galicia. While reviewing drone footage, a blue shark (Prionace glauca) was unexpectedly spotted swimming near the surface. The sighting occurred while the team was tracking activities such as recreational boating and fishing, as part of the TECMAR project.

The footage, captured by a high-resolution drone, revealed the shark swimming calmly despite the proximity of a fishing boat. The unexpected sighting of an adult blue shark caught the attention of the researchers, highlighting the presence of adult individuals in shallower coastal areas, which is not commonly observed in such conditions.

This discovery was the subject of an article published on The Conversation, where the team explained how the use of AI was instrumental in detecting the shark. By employing deep learning models, the AI automatically identifies marine species in drone imagery, helping streamline the data analysis process and enabling more efficient marine monitoring.

The article caught the attention of National Geographic, who conducted an interview with the team to discuss the broader implications of using AI for marine ecosystem monitoring. In the interview, David March emphasized the importance of AI in enhancing our ability to track and monitor marine species, predict ecological changes, and improve conservation efforts. The integration of AI in this field is revolutionizing the way scientists collect and analyze data, making it easier to study marine ecosystems and address emerging environmental challenges. This unexpected shark sighting is a clear example of the valuable role that AI and drone technology can play in advancing marine research and conservation.

Post pictures credits

· Blue shark figure (Prionace glauca). Diego Delso, CC BY-SA.

· Length estimates of the shark and the fishing boat obtained from drone imagery. Spatial Marine Lab. CC BY-SA.