Unique environmental sampling technology helps maritime ports to detect, monitor and manage their marine environments

Maritime UK SW Sponsor, Applied Genomics, based at Brixham Environmental Lab, have developed a sensitive environmental DNA Sampling tool which acts as an early warning system helping maritime ports to detect, monitor and manage invasive non-native marine organisms which potentially threaten the marine environment in ports and their surrounding coastal waters.

Invasive non-native species are the second greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide, after loss of habitats.  With an estimated five to ten billion tonnes of ballast water being moved around the globe annually, international shipping provides a significant pathway introducing marine non-native species and harmful pathogens into ports and coastal waters. Many maritime ports are now identified as locations at high risk from the introduction of harmful organisms carried in ships’ ballast water.

“We’ve developed our eDNA services to deliver sensitive and accurate early detection of non-native species, reliable biodiversity monitoring, and actionable data analyses which help maritime ports to understand and proactively manage the potential threats to marine life, human health and the environment. Our proprietary sampling technologies allow us to target the local port environment, delivering a highly meaningful result for our clients.” says Sebastian Mynott, COO at Applied Genomics.

Applied Genomics unique approach to collecting large volume eDNA samples provides a highly efficient, sensitive and scalable method for monitoring the introduction of non-native species in coastal waters.  This, combined with data from ballast water and biofouling eDNA samples, provides Port Authorities with a powerful tool for proactively managing, monitoring and protecting their marine environments.

Managing the risks of non-nave species introductions is a challenge now being taken up by a growing number of UK Ports, building on work undertaken in partnership with Natural England who have already recognised Applied Genomics in-depth eDNA sampling as a promising new technique for assessing the diversity of inshore fish populations in their 2020 report, NECR330 (http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5189247108907008).

For more information & case studies visit https://appliedgenomics.co.uk/.

Contact:                Sebastian Mynott, COO
Email:                    sebastian@appliedgenomics.co.uk