LATEST RESEARCH.
THE AERIAL RECON & RECOVERY INITIATIVE (ARRI)
At the end of 2022, two of my colleagues & I came together to create a research project, named the Aerial Recon & Recovery Initiative (ARRI), with our pilot study taking place in Thailand.
ARRI started as an initiative combatting the threat of ghost gear and reducing its impact on marine ecosystems.
2023 saw us use aerial surveys via drone, coupled with collaboration with and action by local recovery and recycling teams, marine conservation organisations and dive centres, in order to restore local coastal marine environments.
ALDFG (abandoned, lost & discarded fishing gear) is a massive issue throughout the Gulf of Thailand and in our global oceans; impacting marine habitats, wildlife & fish stocks.
Our long-term aim is to develop long-term solutions to this issue within the region.
I am incredibly grateful to Experiment Foundation, our donors, GGGI & The Ocean Conservancy for their support in this endeavour.
Our work is currently featured in Sea Voice v4: Blue Tech. Read it here.
Check out our 2023 impact below.2023 Achievements
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219 ITEMS OF GEAR LOCATED
FROM 297 DRONE SURVEYS
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5 LARGE-SCALE CLEAN-UPS
WITH 130+ VOLUNTEERS, PLUS REGULAR SMALL-SCALE REMOVALS
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3 TONNES OF GEAR REMOVED
PLUS 250 KG OF PLASTIC & OTHER WASTE
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KEY MEGAFAUNA OBSERVATIONS
INCLUDING AN ENTANGLED SHARK
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34 STUDENTS
IN EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AT 2 SCHOOLS
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STUDENT WORKSHOPS
ALDFG & DRONE DEMOS WITH UNI STUDENTS & RESEARCH INTERNS
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LOCAL COLLABORATIONS
WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, RESEARCH & CONSERVATION GROUPS, DIVE CENTRES & MORE.
A BIT MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT.
The ARRI team are marine biologists and ecologists, with specialties in aerial surveying, ghost gear pollution, elasmobranch biology & spatial ecology. We are extremely passionate about ocean conservation, cultivating relationships with local communities and researchers, and implementing long-lasting locally-managed solutions.
With the help of scientists, colleagues and members of the public, through the Ocean Solutions Fund via Experiment Foundation, we were able to raise funds for an initial survey of ALDFG in Koh Phangan, Surat Thani, Thailand. We are incredibly grateful to all of the donors and to Experiment.
Our pilot was a success! You can read updates about it here.
In May 2023, the ARRI team were selected as one of eight projects to receive the GGGI Small Grants Award, to continue and expand our research within the region.
In August 2023, we headed back to Thailand for another round of aerial surveys for ALDFG, this time including the neighbouring island of Koh Tao. The ARRI team carried out surveys to identify and locate both ghost gear and marine megafauna, collaborating with local organisations to recover this gear, and have worked to implement a removal and recycling initiative within the region.
We have since completed our second field season, and wow - what a year!
I am incredibly proud of all that ARRI has achieved over the course of 2023.
