On 2 October, our team was in South Wales to deploy two new members of the Ecodetect fleet. Our seabed lander Pâl (Welsh for puffin) and communications buoy Gwylan (seagull) went into the water for a two-week data acquisition campaign.
Live imaging from the seabed
Pâl sits on the seabed with an onboard video camera and active sonar system, continuously capturing what is happening around it. Rather than storing that data for someone to retrieve and review weeks later, Pâl transmits live imaging data up to its floating companion, Gwylan, which relays it ashore in real time.
Why real time matters
Offshore developments carry strict obligations to protect marine life, from early site surveys through construction and operation. Pâl and Gwylan are designed to automate that work: detecting marine life activity as it happens and triggering the right mitigation protocols, without relying on manual observation or delayed analysis. The result is faster decisions, stronger evidence for regulators, and projects that can coexist safely with the wildlife around them.
What happened next
Over the following two weeks, the campaign gathered data to put the system through its paces in real offshore conditions. We'll share what we learned soon.
[Video of the deployment to be added]
Thank you
Many thanks to our incredible technical team, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and Câr-Y-Môr for helping deliver this project, and to the local seal who came along to supervise.
Planning an offshore project?
Find out how Ecodetect's real-time monitoring can help your project coexist safely with marine life. Email info@ecodetect.co.uk or get in touch with our team.