Next-Gen Ocean Tech: Italy's Blueprint for Marine Ecosystem Restoration
Italy is spearheading a transformative initiative aimed at restoring its marine ecosystems.
As part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the Marine Ecosystem Restoration project is set to map coastal habitats, study underwater mountains, and develop offshore marine protected areas (MPAs), while leveraging advanced technological solutions.
The Nature Tech Collective partnered with the Founder & CEO of Nui, a blue finance startup and project representatives to learn more about this initiative.
What is the Marine Ecosystem Restoration Project & why is it so important?
The urgency for marine conservation has never been greater. Global biodiversity is in decline, with various factors contributing to the degradation of marine environments. However, existing habitat maps in Italy are outdated, some over 30 years old.
The goal of Italy's Marine Ecosystem Restoration initiative is to create an updated mapping of habitats of conservation interest, particularly focusing on Posidonia oceanica meadows (underwater areas where a type of sea plant called Posidonia oceanica grows in large groups).
Seagrass meadows are vital for CO2 sequestration, marine biodiversity, and planetary health, yet only 20% to date have been mapped.
Collaboration is at the heart of Italy’s Marine Ecosystem Restoration Project, involving key national institutes such as the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection & Research (ISPRA), universities and the Navy.
Private sector companies such as Fugro, the Dutch Geodata specialists, are also key players as part of a wider consortium including Italian firm CGR, EOMap, and PlanBlue .
Advanced ocean technologies for marine ecosystem mapping & analysis
Mapping marine ecosystems is a complex endeavor requiring seamless integration of diverse technologies and rigorous data calibration.
Two transformative technologies are central to this project:
First is advanced lidar (Light Detection and Ranging).
LiDAR technology has existed for over 25 years, but the innovative LiDAR deployed in this project goes beyond traditional systems - using machine learning algorithms to identify and analyze underwater vegetation, accelerate data processing and enable timely delivery of insights.
PlanBlue's sensors, mounted on Fugro’s autonomous underwater vehicle, helps deliver high-definition images and videos of the seafloor, creating massive composite ortho images and 3D digital elevation maps.
What sets PlanBlue’s solution apart is its integration of hyperspectral imaging—a technology that captures hundreds of light wavelengths, enabling precise analysis. This allows for detailed heat maps of seagrass health, carbon storage, and even biodiversity.
Unlike traditional methods, which rely on slow and costly manual sampling by divers, PlanBlue’s AI-driven approach rapidly processes data to uncover issues like seagrass decline, empowering swift, targeted action.
The second critical component is the project’s ground-truthing phase, which validates all collected data, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
One of the standout features of Fugro's technology is its innovative Secchi Disk capability, which measures water clarity by determining how far light penetrates the water column.
In the Mediterranean Sea, where clarity can reach up to 50 meters, this technology is especially effective for mapping seagrass meadows along Italy’s coastline.
Watch the playback
To explore this project in more detail, we were joined by project representatives for a deep dive session on their work and progress so far.
Speakers include:
Amal K - CEO & Co-founder of Nui
Leonardo Tunesi - Research Director at ISPRA (Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research)
Dr. Marco Filippone - Solution Director for Ocean Science and Hydrography at Fugro
Mike Lee - Head of Engineering at PlanBlue
How Italy’s ocean tech initiative sets a new standard for marine conservation efforts
Italy boasts one of the world's longest coastlines - meaning this project is currently the largest coastal mapping initiative of its kind. The initiative underscores the urgency and potential of using technology for establishing baselines within a tight timeline (completion is set for June 2026).
By advancing ocean tech and encouraging collaboration among government agencies, research institutions, and private companies, Italy is also setting a benchmark for marine conservation efforts globally.
A New Vision for Sustainable Marine Conservation
The compact design of the advanced LiDAR system used in this project allows it to be deployed on smaller platforms, reducing the environmental impact of mapping operations. Combined with PlanBlue’s advanced underwater imaging and mapping technologies, this approach not only enhances accuracy and efficiency but also marks a shift toward sustainable practices in marine conservation.
Italy’s Marine Ecosystem Restoration initiative represents a significant step forward in utilizing technology to safeguard our oceans. As Italy leads by example, their efforts may inspire other nations to invest in similar projects that prioritize marine ecosystem restoration and protection.
