Biosensors for the Marine Environment: Introduction

Abstract

The marine environment is impacted by the increasing population and conflicts by industrial activities in the coastal areas. Activities such as dumping of waste, port construction, dredging and extraction processes all contribute to the water quality in the coastal zone. These and the climate related impacts are increasing the pressures on the marine environment and the ecosystem that it supports. The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development calls on scientists to study the ocean’s responses to pressures. Ocean observations and research are essential to predict the consequences of change, design mitigation and guide adaptation. Sensors are traditionally used in marine studies to determine physical parameters, but there is increasing demand for real-time information about chemical and biological parameters. These parameters are currently measured in samples collected at sea and subsequently analysed in the laboratory. With the growing scientific capacity in merging biological recognition with platform engineering we are now able to achieve data gathering on all aspects of marine health. By integrating a hierarchy of measurement systems from satellite to in situ, we have the potential to observe the ocean in real time to make important decisions and protect this vital resource.