Faial set to join a new ocean listening network

The BlueOASIS project plans an underwater acoustic monitoring network to track ocean noise and other sea conditions in the Azores in real time. The initiative envisages deploying more than 150 sensors across the marine environment.

Faial is expected to host a centre connected to this infrastructure. The island could therefore serve as a link between information collected at sea and the analysis required to understand changes in the ocean environment.

The acoustic component is especially relevant in an archipelago where shipping, fishing, scientific research and biodiversity share the same waters. Continuous data collection can improve knowledge of the sounds present in the ocean and of changing marine conditions.

For the Azores, the project underlines the sea's role as a field for knowledge and innovation. The future network could provide new evidence for research, environmental monitoring and decisions on the sustainable use of the region's maritime space.