Enhanced monitoring for sustainable marine development

The two-year project, part of ISPRA’s Marine Ecosystem Restoration (MER) initiative, will establish 11 SEAWATCH Wavescan buoys across Italian waters and two seabed tsunami early-warning stations.

These installations will collect and transmit real-time Geo-data, supporting climate change adaptation and sustainable marine development.

“The ROCA network represents an indispensable tool to acquire detailed and reliable data on climate change affecting our region,” said Giordano Giorgi, ISPRA’s National Coordinator of the MER Project.

“It will provide optimal spatial coverage of Italian waters, offering critical insights for the Mediterranean Sea.”

Design and installation

Fugro will design the buoys’ mooring systems, install the ROCA network and operate it in collaboration with Italian partners Poliservizi Srl and Prisma Srl.

The SEAWATCH buoys will continuously monitor wave height, current velocity, air temperature and wind speed, utilising advanced two-way satellite communication systems for real-time data transmission to a newly established receiving centre.

This initiative is a cornerstone of the MER Project, aimed at restoring marine habitats and strengthening Italy’s national observation system for coastal ecosystems.

Additionally, the project includes seabed mapping, seagrass mapping and other efforts to protect biodiversity.

Jørn Erik Norangshol of Fugro added: “We’re proud to deliver another vital subsea monitoring project. This aligns with our strategy to support climate adaptation and a more sustainable future.”