[LUM#17] A technological wave to protect the ocean
Faced with an overfished Mediterranean Sea, scientists are working to reduce the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems. Among the technological solutions are the Donia mobile app, designed to encourage boaters to protect seagrass beds, and the Overboat, an electric jet ski.
Oceanographers and marine biologists are taking the helm. Frustrated by having to study ecosystems while witnessing their destruction, they are combining their ecological expertise with the technological advancements sweeping through the sciences to devise solutions and develop consumer products. The Donia navigation app is designed to help boaters protect sensitive marine ecosystems. “The idea for this app came from our work on protecting Posidonia, a protected species that continues to disappear due to boat anchoring,” explains Julie Deter, a research professor at the Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation, and Conservation Laboratory (Marbec*) and project manager at Andromède Oceanology, a marine ecology consulting firm.
Between 2011 and 2018, a quarter of the Posidonia seagrass beds disappeared due to anchoring in Golfe-Juan Bay, despite the ban on destroying this protected marine habitat. “The ban is ineffective because law enforcement only applies if the destruction is intentional. But it’s impossible to determine whether a boater knowingly dropped anchor in a seagrass bed or not, ” laments Julie Deter. By providing simplified maps of marine habitats down to a depth of 50 meters, Donia raises awareness among boaters while providing them with information on marine regulations. These maps are based on the detailed and continuous mapping of Mediterranean coastal marine habitats between 0 and 80 meters published in 2014.
Oceanography on your smartphone
Launched in 2013 by Andromède, the app has won the Entreprises & Environnement award. It now has 33,000 active users. To attract even the least eco-conscious among them, several features have been included: practical information for easy anchorage, weather forecasts, nautical charts, and points of interest such as dive sites and underwater trails. “Another selling point is that it’s a community app that lets users share great anchorage spots, dive sites, marine wildlife sightings, and floating hazards, ” explains Julie Deter, who envisions Donia as “a Waze for the sea.”
But for the ecologist, the challenge is also to better regulate anchoring. Mission accomplished for boats over 24 meters in length, which are required to be equipped with a tracking device that allows for their identification and location. “Our team worked with the Rhône-Méditerranée-Corse Water Agency, the Maritime Prefecture, and Customs to update the regulations. A strict ban on anchoring in seagrass beds is now in place for boats over 24 meters, ” the researcher says with satisfaction. For other vessels, the lack of tracking devices makes it difficult to tighten enforcement, even though they account for 95% of the boats anchoring along the coast. To better assess their ecological impact on seagrass beds, a research project has just been launched atIntosea, the joint laboratory established by the University of Montpellier and Andromède Océanologie.
Driven by the need to mitigate the impacts of human activities, oceanographer Vincent Dufour conceived the Overboat in 2016, a small electric boat that was launched in 2019. Resembling a jet ski of the future, this single- or two-seater craft moves using a hydrofoil, powered by electric batteries. Vincent Dufour defends his creation: “Not only is it a new way to travel on the water, but above all, you don’t need to be an expert since the boat’s onboard system handles everything for you.” ” Indeed, a wide range of technologies are on board: “computers constantly process information about the boat’s position to ensure its balance, ” explains Frédérique Bos, Neocean’s sales director. This company was created specifically by Vincent Dufour to develop the Overboat.
Carbon footprint
In terms of marine ecology, the vessel boasts the quiet operation of its electric motor and a minimal wake, which significantly reduces erosion-related damage to riverbanks. But above all, the Overboat’s hydrofoil, by reducing drag, considerably lowers the energy required for propulsion: “The hydrofoil cuts energy consumption by a factor of four, ” notes Frédérique Bos. To demonstrate this reduced environmental footprint, Neocean set out to compare CO2 emissions with a jet ski, taking into account both construction and three years of use: while the Overboat performs less well during construction due to its batteries, after three years its carbon footprint stands at 2,600 kg of CO2 equivalent, compared to 38,000 kg of CO2 equivalent for the jet ski.
But why go electric when sailing is the greenest mode of transport? “They’re not used for the same purposes! The Overboat appeals to operators at ports and marine parks, for example, who need to navigate between boats and dock easily. It’s also popular with water sports centers where noise pollution and environmental impact are growing concerns and where they’re looking for recreational activities with a lower environmental footprint, ” explains Frédérique Bos. The Overboat has already won over some thirty customers, not only in France but also in Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands. Expect to pay around 30,000 euros for the purchase.
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*Marbec (UM, IRD, CNRS, Ifremer)