Exciting News from the Adriatic Sea: Successful Installation of NAUTILOS DO and Chl-a Wisens Prototypes on Commercial Fishing Vessel

Last Thursday, on July 7th, a significant milestone was achieved in marine sensor technology as the first installation of the NAUTILOS DO and Chl-a Wisens prototypes, along with the receiving hub produced by NKE, took place on a commercial fishing vessel in the Adriatic Sea. This groundbreaking event signifies that we are now positioned precisely in the middle between the integration phase and the start of the demonstration phase.

The chosen vessel for this groundbreaking installation is a bottom trawler from the Ancona fleet. This particular vessel has been under constant monitoring for several years through the CNR IRBIM AdriFOOS infrastructure. Equipped with the newly installed NAUTILOS sensors, the vessel has embarked on its first fishing trip, marking the commencement of an extensive testing period.

Already, some GPS data from the fishing trip have been received by the AdriFOOS server. A fascinating comparison between the track recorded with the conventional NKE equipment included in AdriFOOS and the new NAUTILOS hub has been conducted. We eagerly await the arrival of environmental data, including fishing depth, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll-a concentration. These crucial metrics are expected to be transmitted towards the end of the fishing trip.

In the coming weeks leading up to the annual fishing closure in August, intensive testing of the demonstration phase will take place. As we have already successfully tested the communication between AdriFOOS and NAUTILOS services, we remain hopeful that by early September, we will be fully prepared to commence the sharing of near real-time data effectively.

To ensure the smooth operation of this pioneering initiative, CNR IRBIM plans to reach out to NKE, as well as ETT, colleagues to verify that all systems are functioning optimally. Collaboration and coordination among all intervenient will play a vital role in realizing the immense potential of this innovative technology.

The integration of NAUTILOS DO and Chl-a Wisens prototypes, in conjunction with the receiving hub, onto a commercial fishing vessel marks a significant step forward in monitoring and understanding marine ecosystems. The successful implementation of these sensors holds great promise for advancing marine research, conservation efforts, and sustainable fishing practices in the Adriatic Sea and beyond.

Stay tuned for more updates on this groundbreaking development as we embark on this exciting journey of exploration and discovery in the vast waters of the Adriatic Sea.