An ocean going drone is protecting the world’s largest marine reserve
Conservations have always had to work on a budget, I know, I've been one, but now technology is helping them in ways that were previously unimaginable
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Griffin, M. (2017) 'An ocean going drone is protecting the world’s largest marine reserve', 311 Institute, 16 June. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/an-ocean-going-drone-is-protecting-the-worlds-largest-marine-reserve/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Whether it’s robots stunning invasive species like Lionfish and the Crown of Thorns, or scientists using 3D printing to resurrect dying reefs, Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify species or create a Facebook for Whales, or genetic editing to wipe out species, it’s undeniable that conservations are increasingly turning to technology to help them fix the damage that’s being wrought on the planet’s ecosystems.
Now, an ocean going, solar powered drone called Wave Glider, that’s made by a Boeing company called Liquid Robotics, has been enlisted by the UK Government to help spot illegal fishing in the world's largest, continuous marine reserve - the 834,000 square km, or 322,000 square mile, zone around the Pitcairn Islands in the Pacific which the UK designated a marine nature reserve back in 2015.
The plan is that the data gathered by the drone will be beamed back to a satellite control room in Harwell Science Park in Oxfordshire and be used by authorities to help prosecute unauthorised trawling which has become an increasing problem in the reserve.
That said though, and as if all that isn’t enough for the sea faring drone, it’s also going to be patrolling areas in the reserve designated as no fishing zones and using its on board camera it’s going to take snaps of fishing vessels that are in restricted areas, and then use satellite technology that can pinpoint their location.
The drone is comprised of two parts - an instrument bearing boat that floats on the ocean surface that is tethered to a submersible – and it uses the differential motion between the sea surface and the region the submersible traverses to propel itself along which means it can stay at sea for months at a time.
The seas around the Pitcairns are believed to be home to more than 1,200 species of fish, marine mammals and birds, some of which are unique to the region and it also supports the world's deepest and most well developed coral reef.
The unmanned craft starting patrolling late last month.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Conservations have always had to work on a budget, I know, I've been one, but now technology is helping them in ways that were previously unimaginable
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
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Sources and further reading
- Liquid Robotics liquid-robotics.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 16 June 2017. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2017). An ocean going drone is protecting the world’s largest marine reserve. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/an-ocean-going-drone-is-protecting-the-worlds-largest-marine-reserve/
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