New French drone to monitor Phillip Island oceans for three years

A new hi-tech drone has been launched into the waters of Victoria where it will stay for three years, find out what it’s doing.

Phillip Island Nature Parks will have never before seen access to the underwater world, with the launch of a new hi-tech drone never used in Australia before on Friday.

The drone, on lend from the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), will help map the penguin feeding grounds for the first time.

The sailing drone will survey the waters of Phillip Island, collecting information on water temperature, fish abundance and the salt level which will help researchers better understand the penguins.

It can also identify predators and prey swimming under the water.

The French ambassador for Australia Jean-Pierre Thébaul visited Phillip Island on Friday to launch the sailing drone, and said this project was an example of what France and Australia could achieve together.

“There is a huge connection between Australia and France in science,” he said.

“People think the penguins are a tiny creature so they think it is a tiny problem. No. We are addressing one of the biggest problems, which is the effect of climate change on nature.

“Through this drone...you’ll be able to monitor the effects of climate change, on penguins and then on us.”

The drone works by sending sound to the bottom of the ocean, the echo is then translated into images, which will be used by scientists in future research.

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Associate Professor Jonas Hentati-Sundberg from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences explains the features of the sailing drone.

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The 2m-long sailing drone, acquired by project lead scientist Claire Saraux from CNRS, is the result of a partnership between Phillip Island Nature Parks, CNRS, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and the Penguin Foundation. It is fitted with an echo-sounder to create detailed descriptions.

Phillip Island Nature Parks’ marine scientist associate professor Andre Chiaradia said information collected by the sailing drone will be an invaluable asset for penguin research now and future.

“There is a need to improve our knowledge of penguins and other marine species. The sailing drone will give us crucial information for marine spatial planning and conservation,” he said.

The sailing drone will survey the waters of Phillip Island, collecting information on water temperature, fish abundance and the salt level which will help researchers better understand the penguins.

“It’s technology we haven’t had access to before, and it will change how we manage research and conservation projects for our penguin population.”

He said they currently don’t have any accurate data on prey composition as the processes are too difficult and expensive.

“By saving the penguins, we may save ourselves in the process,” Dr Chiaradia said.

A map of where the sailing drone will monitor feeding grounds of penguins off of Phillip Island.

It is autonomous and is powered by wind and currents to sail and solar panels to steer and power the sensors. It will operate in the ocean, in the areas penguins go foraging for food.

French PhD student Lilia Guillet will operate the drone as part of her studies.

“Not only will we see the different types of fish under the water, we will also see the quantity of fish. This can help scientists to know what food is available in the foraging zone of little penguins,” Ms Guillet said.

The sailing drone will collect data and information for three years.