Australia’s national science agency has successfully tested a world-first monitoring and forecasting system for water quality in the country’s “seafood basket”.
The AquaWatch Australia Mission at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization on Monday announced its technology that acts as a weather service for water quality by combining data from water sensors and satellites has completed initial testing in the Spencer Gulf in South Australia.
A large bio-rich inlet on Australia’s south coast, the Spencer Gulf provides much of AustralThe technology applies artificial intelligence (AI) and computer models to environmental data to deliver real-time water quality monitoring and forecasting, with the CSIRO team planning to use it in seafood farms to boost productivity.ia’s seafood.
According to government agency Water Quality Australia, blue-green algal blooms caused by cyanobacteria can lead to a deterioration of water quality and production of toxins by some species.
A research scientist at the Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association, said they cause major losses for seafood farm operators, which could be abated with an effective early warning system.
The AquaWatch Mission was established by the CSIRO in March 2023 with a goal of delivering a ground-to-space water quality monitoring system for Australia and the globe.