PERIZIA: Conservation and sustainable exploitation of hedgehog populations through innovative technologies based on artificial intelligence

Pleamar program

The sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) is an echinoderm of commercial interest, whose turnover and commercial value have experienced a notable boom in the last decade, due to both the increase in its demand worldwide and the collapse of many of its populations. Its exploitation in Galicia is co-managed by the Xunta de Galicia and fishermen’s guilds, being a specific resource due to its special vulnerability. Recent urchin restocking projects carried out in Galicia reveal an alarming overexploitation. The aim of the PERIZIA project, in close collaboration with the guilds, is to design and test on board new underwater vision technologies (autonomous cameras, ROVs and/or underwater trains) that generate images of sea urchin populations for treatment using novel and disruptive artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. All this to obtain large volumes of data from its real state that support effective and efficient decision-making for the conservation and sustainable exploitation of this valuable resource

Project

Line of action:

Marine ecosystems

Status:

En ejecución

Execution date:

2024

End date:

2026

Project web page:

https://www.programapleamar.es/proyectos/perizia-conservacion-y-explotacion-sostenible-de-las-poblaciones-de-erizo-mediante

Objectives

The aim of the PERIZIA project, in close collaboration with the guilds, is to design and test on board new underwater vision technologies (autonomous cameras, ROVs and/or underwater trains) that generate images of sea urchin populations for treatment using artificial intelligence techniques. All this to obtain large volumes of data from its real state that support effective and efficient decision-making for the conservation and sustainable exploitation of this valuable resource.

The project consists of six specific objectives:

OE1: Development, in collaboration with the participating guilds, of campaign plans to develop and test vision technologies. OE2: Analysis and selection of vision technologies to be used for the acquisition of images of urchin populations in underwater environments, including the design of new equipment (underwater train), configurations of vision elements/hardware (autonomous cameras) and the use of ROVs, among others. OE3: Test the efficiency of new vision technologies in field tests. OE4: Development of deep learning algorithms for analysis of the images obtained to obtain population data of hedgehogs. OE5: Dissemination of the project and its results, with special attention to promoting and strengthening the interaction between fishermen and administrations in order to define tools/mechanisms for co-management of the resource based on the population data acquired. OE6: Correct technical and administrative implementation of the project in accordance with the objectives pursued and the bases of the PLEAMAR 2023 call.

Entity / grouped entities