Faced with a sharp increase in poaching and non-compliance with maritime fishing regulations, Port-Cros National Park is stepping up surveillance of the area. In addition to patrols, the park has partnered with BSB Marine to develop an artificial intelligence capable of improving the management and preservation of marine protected areas. The project is led by the Mediterranean Sea Pole and supported by BPI France and is currently being deployed in the waters of the National Park.

Inspired by the new navigational aid system “OSCAR” developed by BSB Marine, EYESEA AMP is an automated surveillance device for sensitive natural areas with regulated access. An innovation that could change the management of marine protected areas at national and international level.

The operating principle of EYESEA AMP is based on artificial vision and intelligence. A vision unit, previously trained to recognize different types of floating objects, is connected to a calculation unit capable of analyzing the situation in real time and alerting in case of detection of suspicious behaviour. A notification is then sent to the site manager on a smartphone, allowing him to optimize and reinforce his intervention capacities.

Placed in the right place, EYESEA AMP is able to analyse the frequentation of the area, to report an unauthorised anchorage in integral reserve or to alert in case of suspicion of harm to marine species. A tool that is easy to install and use, reliable and resistant, which responds to the many problems encountered by Marine Parks, particularly in the summer period, when it is difficult to be on all fronts, and on sites that are difficult to access.

Its artificial intelligence consists of a network of artificial neurons inspired by the human brain. As its database grows over time, it is able to continuously learn and improve its detection capabilities. This performance is constantly evolving thanks to user contributions, offering many future prospects for the management of marine protected areas in all the world’s seas.

The Port-Cros National Park is the pilot territory for a full-scale test of this innovation, directly supporting the Southern Region in its ambition to become the first “Smart Region” in Europe.

Translated from Le Parc national de Port-Cros et BSB Marine développent une IA pour la préservation des aires marines protégées