In southern England, Fugro has completed testing of the DOT-NM Autosampler, developed by Dartmouth Ocean Technologies and NatureMetrics. The trial took place in the marina in front of the Fugro office in Portchester, UK.
The technology is designed to swiftly generate biodiversity assessments by collecting environmental DNA (eDNA) samples autonomously. The programmable, self-cleaning Autosampler performs in situ collection and preservation of eDNA samples with no human interaction, leading to enhanced safety and efficiency in remote or hazardous environments, Fugro said.
Continuous collection of biodiversity data provides a more representative sample for compliance with Biodiversity Marine Net Gain commitments, the company added, supporting assessments of the impact of offshore wind farms, on marine ecosystems.
The Autosampler can be deployed from a vessel or beneath buoys and moorings offshore, with no need for personnel to be present and allowing for tailored data collection over long periods. Results indicate the service is as reliable as manual data collection, Fugro claimed.
Andy Addleton, environmental service line manager, said the company plans to integrate the technology for use on its uncrewed surface vessels, Seawatch wind lidar buoys, and seabed landers to support clients’ long-term biodiversity assessments.
