This challenge focuses on developing a method or tool to assess impacts of Marine Pen Fish Farms (MPFF) on the ecological communities of hard (rocky) seabeds and protected marine habitats where it is neither possible nor appropriate to take a grab sample.
What we develop must be a non-invasive and preferably quantitative method to monitor ecological effects. The solution must be scientifically robust and must demonstrate the ability to detect whether MPFF operations remain within environmental limits, supporting sustainable aquaculture practices and the protection of sensitive marine ecosystems.