Sawu Sea Deploys AI Acoustic Tech for Marine Protection

RRI.CO.ID, Kupang - Efforts to protect marine mammals in the Sawu Sea Marine National Park (TNP) in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province are entering a new digital era. Through the installation of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered acoustic detectors on several islands such as Sabu and Ndao, the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, together with the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation (YKAN), aims to monitor the presence of whales and dolphins while detecting potential damaging activities within the conservation area.

“Trials in the Sawu Sea present an important opportunity to see how innovative solutions can provide learning and tangible benefits for the management of conservation areas,” said Director of Ecosystem Conservation at the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, Firdaus Agung, in a statement received in Kupang on Thursday, August 14, 2026.

The statement was made in relation to a collaborative program involving YKAN, the Kupang Marine Management Center (BPK), and the NTT Provincial Administration. This initiative focuses on the deployment of advanced monitoring technology in the Sawu Sea TNP.

According to him, conservation area management must continuously adapt to advances in science and technology. This is crucial to improving monitoring effectiveness, data availability, and supporting information-based decision-making.

He added that the application of technological innovations must also be aligned with management needs and integrated into existing systems.

Through the Global Ocean Innovation Challenge (GOIC), two cutting-edge technological solutions will be trialed in the Sawu Sea Marine National Park in NTT Province. The implementation of these innovations is aimed at optimizing monitoring and providing more accurate data to support governance policy-making for the area.

GOIC is an initiative developed by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), YKAN, and Newlab to encourage the development and application of innovative solutions to address various marine challenges.

In the Sawu Sea, Havoc from the United States will test an Autonomous Surface Vessel (ASV), an unmanned vessel capable of expanding the monitoring range of the area. Meanwhile, blueOASIS from Portugal will test an AI-based underwater acoustic monitoring station to more effectively detect marine mammals and activities utilizing the conservation area. The blueOASIS technology will be trialed on Batek Island, Ndao Island, Salura Island, and Sabu Island, while Havoc’s technology will be tested on Sabu Island.

Head of the Kupang Marine Management Center, Imam Fauzi, said that technology will be more meaningful if it strengthens existing systems rather than operating as a separate system. “Technology does not replace the management systems already in place, but serves as a tool to strengthen them. With a vast marine area like the Sawu Sea, we need to continue developing new ways to enhance the effectiveness of monitoring and surveillance,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

Imam added that the trials are expected to provide insights into how technology can be used under real conditions in the Sawu Sea. These lessons will then serve as a basis for determining the most appropriate forms of technology utilization to meet the needs of area management.

Thus, technological innovation is positioned as part of a larger collaboration ecosystem. The data generated is not intended to stop at monitoring but is expected to strengthen planning, assist decision-making, and enrich knowledge about the condition of the area.

In addition to supporting the implementation of technological innovations, YKAN continues to strengthen the management of the Sawu Sea TNP. This is being done through four complementary strategies, which are marine protection, sustainable fisheries, coastal resilience, and the blue economy. This approach is being realized through various programs in collaboration with the government, communities, and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile, YKAN’s Marine Program Director, Muhammad Ilman, conveyed that the management of the Sawu Sea TNP must be built through the interconnection of various approaches.

“The Sawu Sea TNP has very important ecological and social values. Its management challenges are complex and cross-regional. Therefore, various parties need to work together, share knowledge and data, and align their support. Technology is one of the tools that can help address these challenges,” he said.

Through stronger collaboration and technological support, the management of the Sawu Sea TNP is expected to optimally preserve the marine ecosystem. This step also ensures that the Sawu Sea remains a healthy living space that provides sustainable benefits for the community. ***