Linking Shipborne Water to Ocean Health

The problem

(1) Ballast water transfers billions of tons of seawater across regions every year, carrying microscopic life with it, including invasive species.

(2) Current monitoring relies on manual sampling and lab analysis, which is slow, costly, and often too late to prevent invasive species introductions.

How we could solve it

FP Aqua’s sensor technology combines high-resolution imaging, AI-based species identification, and optical light attraction to monitor zooplankton in real time.

Deployed directly in ballast water systems or sampling points, it enables continuous biodiversity assessment and early detection of invasive organisms, without the need for manual sampling.

What this means for stakeholders

Automated, real-time biodiversity and species detection in ballast water.

Rapid compliance verification with international ballast water management regulations.

Reduced operational downtime and sampling costs.

Stronger datasets to support environmental agencies, port authorities, and shipping companies in safeguarding marine ecosystems.

Future opportunities

As the technology matures, FP Aqua’s system will enable fully integrated AI-powered monitoring of plankton biodiversity, from shipboard applications to coastal ecosystems.

Developments include density estimation and ecosystem trend forecasting, contributing to early warning systems for ecological shifts and biosecurity risks.

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