Research Team Launches Coral Cartography at AAORIA 2026
initiative launched in 2020 to fast-track solutions to protect the world’s corals, the project unites experts from nine countries across the Atlantic in image-based survey, coral taxonomy, mapping, management, and policy engagement, including Norway, UK, Portugal, Germany, Mauritania, Namibia, South Africa, Uruguay and Brazil.Cold-water corals (CWC) are a critical component of deep-sea ecosystems, facing growing threats from fishing, deep-sea mining, and climate change. While the North Atlantic benefits from relatively rich data on coral distribution, the Central and South Atlantic remain significantly
Argentina Accedes Cape Town Agreement, Entry into Force February 2027
, include: Argentina, Belgium, Belize, Congo, Cook Islands, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Iceland, Japan, Kenya, Namibia, Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain and Vanuatu.
Australia Opens a Wave Data Portal
management of coastal resources by expanding the use of ocean buoys for recording wave data and making it freely-available. Most recently, they have advanced wave forecasting capabilities by deploying a fleet of 10 drifting wave buoys in the Southern Ocean between the Western Australian coast and South Africa. These small, solar-powered wave buoys are expected to float in ocean currents and collect wave data for several years.A network of wave buoys is helping researchers understand the processes and changes driven by waves in Australia’s coastal zone. Source: UWAResearch Fellow Marzieh Derkani
Study Identifies "Collision Map" For Birds, Boats to Support Conservation Efforts
include bird-scaring lines, branch-line weighting and night-setting.The study was a collaboration with the New Zealand Department of Conservation, Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) in the United Kingdom, The University of Queensland, Charles Sturt University, Halpin Wildlife Research in Canada, and South Africa’s Nelson Mandela Universit
Lander Lab: Cost Efficiency of Baited Ocean Landers
crab pot and marked with a surface float. Images are often limited to daylight hours, so lights and batteries are not needed. These simple systems are known as “Baited Remote Underwater Video” (BRUV) platforms.Stereo Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) at Rheeders' Reef, Tsitsikamma, South Africa. Photo by Peter Southwood, Used with PermissionThe use of BRUV systems is favored over extractive sampling methods such as trawling, as many species escape the nets, or are destroyed by capture. Because they are quiet and offer bait, the BRUVs provide a 40% more efficient approach to recording
Underwater Autonomous Glider Departs to Circumnavigate the Globe
critical ocean data from under-sampled, remote regions of the globe.Redwing’s first leg will see it ride the Gulf Stream south of Martha’s Vineyard toward Europe, before sweeping south to stop at Gran Canaria off the coast of North West Africa. Its next leg will take it to Cape town in South Africa, before crossing the Indian Ocean to stop at Perth in Western Australia, then on to Wellington, New Zealand. It will then navigate the Antarctic Circumpolar Current — the most powerful current on Earth — taking it on its longest leg to the Falkland Islands. From here there will be
Subsea Cables Accellerate Africa’s AI Potential
communication, increase access to information, and enhance social cohesion.“In Kenya, gen AI is being used to create personalized learning pathways for students, with the goal of improving academic performance, increasing engagement, and providing tailored educational experiences.“In South Africa, a local start-up is using proprietary AI models and tools, including GPT-4, to help small-business owners better understand their finances and automate the production of easily understandable reports and dashboards.”McKinsey says generative AI could unlock $61-103 billion in economic value
Ocean Exchange Names Finalists for Three Awards
of water including healthy marine life and coastlines. The (1) new Ocean Enterprise Award will go to a solution that supports ocean observations, delivers improved data and services, and enables the growth of a sustainable Blue Economy and healthy oceans. Finalists for 2025 are:ABALOBI (South Africa) Fisher-led digital solutions for small-scale fisheries.Algae Scope (Italy) PFAS replacement in textiles with seaweed based alternatives.Aloft (USA) Weather data collection while underway with novel wind propulsion. Bio Clean Carbon (Denmark) Nutrient removal system using cyanobacteria.Bluenose
Wine Down Under
this year will include Chardonay and Cabernet Sauvignon as well as Semillon and Shiraz.There’s everything we need to scale up within 30 kilometers of the harbor, says Adams.After that, the founders plan to expand to waters in other parts of Australia, South-East Asia and still further afield, in South Africa and Miami.Images below courtesy of Lauren Tricket
February 2026
