Jun 7, 2018, 12:35 PM ET

Can technology save the rarest creatures on the planet?

The EconomistDouglas McCauley, Doug

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Douglas Macaulay, a marine science professor at UC Santa Barbara, is utilizing advanced technology to track and protect critically endangered marine species, specifically the giant sea bass.
The giant sea bass population has declined to approximately 500 individuals, representing a near-extinction crisis driven by historical sport and gillnet fishing.
In the previous year alone, 97 giant sea bass were sold in California, a figure accounting for one-fifth of the remaining global population.
Macaulay has developed a "Facebook for fish" approach using baited remote underwater cameras to create a photographic database for mapping the elusive creatures' locations.
Conventional physical tagging methods are deemed ineffective for rare species like the giant sea bass, necessitating this non-invasive visual identification system.
The tracking algorithm, originally designed by NASA for star identification, is now repurposed to analyze the unique spot patterns on the sides of giant sea bass to identify individuals automatically.
The system has successfully catalogued 115 individual giant sea bass, generating raw data on migration patterns and health status previously unrecorded by scientists.
Analysis of captured footage has revealed specific anthropogenic impacts, including visible fishing hooks lodged in jaws and fishing lines attached to surviving fish.
Existing marine protected areas (MPAs) currently cover only 3.7% of the ocean, a statistic Macaulay notes is insufficient for species that do not respect established borders.
Macaulay's prior research utilizing GPS tags on gray reef sharks directly influenced a U.S. government decision to expand the largest marine protected area in America after tracking revealed the sharks utilized open ocean zones beyond reef boundaries.
Macaulay advocates for cross-disciplinary collaboration between marine biologists and computer scientists from Silicon Valley to effectively manage ocean conservation over a century or longer horizon.
The technology serves as a potential keystone for advocating new MPAs by providing the scientific evidence required to prove population presence in unregulated ocean sectors.
The Channel Islands ecosystem, a designated network of marine protected areas, is highlighted as a critical refuge where fishing is restricted or banned to foster marine recovery.
Macaulay expresses a forward-looking stance that while technology initially contributed to ocean degradation, it now represents the primary solution for reversing damage and ensuring a healthy long-term ocean future.