London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025

Sea camera network launches in OTs

Sea camera network launches in OTs

British overseas territories will gain a fish-eye view of their waters with the launch of a new large-scale network of cameras to monitor ocean wildlife.

The Virgin Islands will be included in the United Kingdom-funded Blue Belt project to form the “Global Ocean Wildlife Analysis Network.”

The effort entails deploying 66 non-intrusive “Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems” — known as BRUVS for short — in the open ocean and coastal habitats of the OTs in the Caribbean, South Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Southern oceans, according to a April 3 press release from the UK government.

The project is led by scientists from the UK government’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science; the University of Western Australia; and OT partners working with Blue Abacus, an organisation that collects data on fish populations.

The carbon fibre camera rigs can monitor the oceans from mid-water levels to the seabed, taking video samples of passing animal life, according to Blue Abacus’ website.

“BRUVS will enable researchers to see below the surface and provide a benchmark of scientific understanding of the marine species within their maritime area, allowing the UK OTs to take more informed decisions about protecting and managing these diverse ecosystems,” according to the press release.

The Blue Belt programme covers more than four million square kilometres of ocean, the UK stated.

VI fisheries


Last August, VI government leaders turned an eye toward more sustainable and self-sufficient fishing and agriculture practices in the territory.

Deputy Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said at the time that growing those sectors would both provide greater food security and help diversify the economy.

Government also circulated the proposed Food Security and Sustainability Bill, though legislators have not yet debated it in the House of Assembly. It would set new policy for managing local fisheries.

The UK’s Saturday announcement said data gathered by the BRUVS will give a better picture of the diversity and abundance of ocean and reef species across the territories.

This information will be especially helpful for learning more about migratory species and assisting “in the management of data-poor fisheries,” according to the UK press release.

Other participating territories include Anguilla, Ascension Island, the British Antarctic Territory, the British Indian Ocean Territory, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, and Tristan da Cunha.

‘Blue economies’


Jessica Meeuwig, a Blue Abacus co-founder and University of Western Australia professor, said the organisation is grateful for the governments’ support.

“This programme will give decision-makers the evidence they need to act decisively in support of their blue economies,” Ms. Meeuwig said in the press release.

In areas including the Cayman Islands, BRUVS cameras have already proved useful, according to Timothy Austin, research and assessment deputy director at the territory’s Department of Environment.

“Nearshore benthic BRUVS have been an important research tool for informing marine species and protected area management in the Cayman Islands,” Mr. Austin said in the release. “The opportunity to take this technology further offshore will greatly enhance the Cayman Islands’ ability to implement meaningful and effective conservation regimes for this data-limited, poorly understood, but crucially important ecosystem.”

Ascension Islands’ Director of Conservation and Fisheries Diane Baum noted that being part of such a large-scale network should also help the OTs collaboratively drive improvements to marine conservation at a global scale.

OTs will receive the BRUVS sets and related equipment during the next few months, the release states.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×