Autonomous Reef Monitoring System Enables Continuous Real-Time Data Collection

CatchCam Technologies and Stream Ocean have partnered to develop a real-time, AI-powered system for autonomous coral reef monitoring By Summer James / 20 May 2025

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Autonomous Reef Monitoring System Enables Continuous Real-Time Data Collection
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CatchCam Technologies (CCTech) and Stream Ocean have collaborated to develop an autonomous reef monitoring system that combines real-time environmental data with AI-powered biodiversity analysis.

At the center of the system is a custom SeaSensor developed by CCTech for environmental monitoring. The sensor:

SeaSensor by CatchCam Technologies (CCTech).
  • Measures temperature, turbidity, and depth.
  • Integrates additional project-specific metrics, including conductivity, pH, and dissolved oxygen.
  • Transmits live data in real time via a 150m-long cable from the reef back to shore in Palau.

Stream Ocean’s AI-powered software complements the sensor data by:

  • Identifying marine life through underwater imagery analysis.
  • Providing visual assessments of reef health using live imaging.

Coral reefs are among the most threatened ecosystems on the planet, yet obtaining accurate information about their health remains one of the biggest challenges for biodiversity researchers. Reefs can undergo rapid changes due to environmental stressors such as rising sea temperatures, pollution, and unsustainable fishing practices.

Understanding the importance of coral reef monitoring is the first step toward protecting these ecosystems. Consistent data collection helps scientists detect early warning signs, monitor recovery efforts, and develop targeted conservation strategies.

For marine scientists, timely access to data is essential. Traditional reef monitoring methods often rely on periodic surveys, which only capture snapshots in time. The new integrated live-stream system addresses this limitation by enabling continuous, real-time monitoring from reef to shore.

By combining environmental data and marine life observations into a single live-stream platform, this collaboration offers a valuable tool for biodiversity research, not just in Palau, but also for other remote or hard-to-reach reef systems affected by climate change.

The Palau project marks the beginning of a partnership between CCTech and Stream Ocean, bringing together hardware expertise and AI-based data processing. The system enables autonomous reef monitoring without the need for frequent site visits, providing long-term insights while minimizing disturbance to sensitive habitats.

With installation scheduled for July 2025, the system will soon begin delivering live coral reef video and data streams, supporting research on reef health, climate change impacts, and sustainable tourism.

Posted by Summer James Summer is an Editor & Copywriter at Ocean Science Technology. With a background in Creative Writing and English Literature, she joined in 2025 and brings a passion for subsea robotics, environmental monitoring, and ocean exploration. Her focus is on crafting engaging, accessible content that highlights the latest advances in marine technology. Connect

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