Ocean tech for sustainability

How 4IR can help shape – and save – the blue economy

The world is facing a climate crisis of unprecedented proportions, and ocean ecosystems have been especially susceptible to the massive environmental damage that industrialisation has caused. A report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) states: “For millennia, we have taken the oceans’ bounty for granted. Ocean resources have been largely out of sight and so, out of mind. We have extracted resources and dumped waste with confidence that the oceans were inexhaustible. Yet, today we are running up against the oceans’ limits.”

With the rise of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) there might be a ray of hope. Could the damage that has been done by technological advances be reversed by the same phenomenon? According to the WEF, 4IR offers maritime industries the opportunity to not only advance through the use of technology, but also through the gathering of data, which can help the ocean become more sustainable and profitable.

Data is king

For the marine data experts at Oceanwise, 4IR offers geospatial industries the chance to use data in ways that could benefit society in the long run. “We are increasingly challenging the way data is collected and stored, shared and exchanged in the innovative applications being developed,” the organisation says. “As everything happens somewhere, treating data as ‘infrastructure’ is vitally important, just like our road system or power supply.”

WEF experts agree, reporting that 4IR is “first and foremost a data revolution” that can solve many issues that the oceans face. “In combination with other fourth industrial revolution innovations such as biotechnologies, distributed ledgers and robots, the digital ocean will have profound implications for every aspect of the ocean challenges humanity faces.”

Fisheries

The fishing industry is one of the most lucrative of the maritime industries.according to the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the fishing industry makes up 5% of the provincial GDP, and has insured assets worth a whopping R100-billion. It is also an industry plagued by issues such as declining stock of species, illegal activity like poaching, and tense community dynamics with small and large residential fisheries.

The problem of illegal fishing is not just confined to South Africa as it is reported that 20% of global fish catch is illegal or unregulated, and costs governments and legal fisheries up to $23-billion per year. Fortunately technological advancements mean new and effective ways to combat illegal fishing exist, through the use of 5G and mesh networks to monitor and stop illegal fishing and monitor stock. The WEF says buyers can also better manage their supply chains through DNA barcoding, which allows for rapid identification of seafood in trade by matching fish products to a standardised genetic library for all fish species.

Pollution and habitats

The issue of ocean pollution and its effect on the natural habitats of fish and other sea creatures is another problem that 4IR tech could help with. Scientists predict that the ocean will have more plastic than fish in 2050, and that underwater habitats are also facing danger. Some deep-sea floor systems may take centuries to recover from the damage that unnecessary development has caused. The use of drones and other existing technologies are being tailored with the intent to restore damaged ecosystems by planting mangroves.

Data and the integration of machine learning and advanced sensors can help reduce pollution in the oceans by better regulating the use of pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture. These innovations are just some of the tools that geocentric industries such as the maritime industry can use, and the importance of deciphering these technologies is growing exponentially.

According to Oceanwise researchers: “We need to embrace a comprehensive and globally shared view of how technology is affecting our lives and reshaping our economic, social, cultural, and human environments rather than continuing to operate with a ‘silo’ mentality.”

The WEF report leaves readers with a final warning: “The innovations of the fourth industrial revolution create new possibilities for all stakeholders. Ungoverned, these innovations could accelerate degradation. It is urgent that we find ways both to exploit the potential of the fourth industrial revolution and to manage the risks.” *