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Eelume, a member of the Ocean Autonomy Cluster, has entered an exciting partnership with the Lillesand-based company Green Bay – a leading player in the removal of lost fishing gear.

This collaboration goes beyond operations, as Green Bay also acts as a development partner, providing valuable insights and expertise for the further advancement of Eelume’s technology.

"Ghost fishing" - a major environmental challenge

Lost fishing gear, both commercial and non-commerciela are often referred to as “ghost fishing equipment” and poses a severe threat to marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

Ghost fishing occurs when abandoned or lost fishing gear continues to trap and kill marine life, often for years. Ghost traps or ghost pots refer specifically to lost crab and lobster traps that continue catching marine species indiscriminately. Green Bay has developed an effective system for detecting and removing these hidden dangers from the seabed.

With their extensive experience and expertise in autonomous underwater missions, Green Bay plays a key role in strengthening both underwater cleanup efforts and the development of future autonomous marine technology.

“This collaboration demonstrates how cutting-edge Norwegian-developed underwater technology can address real environmental challenges – tailored to the demanding conditions of Norwegian waters,” says Thomas Nygaard, CEO of Eelume.

“By combining Eelume’s autonomous underwater drones with Green Bay’s extensive operational experience and expertise, particularly in using AUVs in complex and challenging environments, we are not only helping to clear the seabed of lost fishing gear but also developing new and efficient methods for sustainable high-quality marine data collection,” he adds.

“This project is unique – not only in Norway but also internationally – and represents an important step toward a more environmentally conscious and knowledge-driven approach to ocean management,” Nygaard concludes.

A new dimension to underwater operations

Eelume’s all-terrain AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles) bring a new dimension to underwater operations.

Unlike traditional AUVs, which often have limitations in complex and challenging underwater terrain, Eelume’s technology enables the localization and retrieval of lost fishing gear from areas that other AUVs cannot reach. This enhances knowledge about the seabed and underwater waste while improving the efficiency of marine cleanup operations.

By integrating Green Bay’s operational expertise into product development, Eelume can further advance even more sophisticated and effective autonomous solutions for future underwater missions.

“We have already discovered lost fishing gear for Green Bay, and it is alarming to see how it continues to trap marine life over long periods. It is reassuring to know that our research and technology development can help combat this issue – while also preserving biodiversity and marine life,” Nygaard concludes.

Eelume S AUV. Photo: Eelume

Green Bay – a social entrepreneur for clean coastal areas

Green Bay works for the sustainable use of our coastal areas. The company operates from the research vessel TYRA and has expertise in marine engineering, marine biology, and underwater technology.

Their current mission is to clear Raet Marine National Park of lost fishing gear and eliminate ghost fishing.

Green Bay carries out seabed cleanup projects along the Norwegian coast, from Agder to Møre, in partnership with the Institute of Marine Research and with funding from Handelens Miljøfond.

“Ghost trap” photographed with Eelume’s AUV. Photo: Eelume

High expectations

“At Green Bay, we have high expectations for the development project in collaboration with Eelume’s new AUV,” says Tord Aslaksen, managing director of Green Bay AS.

“We have several years of experience operating larger AUVs in our environmental projects and are particularly looking forward to testing new features such as improved maneuverability and the ability to map areas that are difficult to reach with traditional AUVs. In May/June, we will use this new technology to map and clean a lobster conservation area in Southern Norway and explore how we can become more efficient in the future by adopting this technology,” he says.

The pilot expedition will be conducted as part of a larger environmental project, The fight against ghost fishing in Southern Norway, which Green Bay is carrying out in collaboration with the Institute of Marine Research, Aslaksen concludes.

Next steps

The first missions in this collaboration will take place in the second quarter of 2025. This marks an important step forward in utilizing advanced autonomy for ocean conservation.

The project is not only significant for Norway but also in a European context, demonstrating how advanced autonomous systems can revolutionize marine cleanup efforts and contribute to a more sustainable ocean environment.

About the companies

Eelume is a Trondheim-based subsea technology company specializing in autonomous underwater robots. Eelume was founded in 2015 as a spin-off from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Eelume has developed innovative snake-like AUVs designed for long-term deployment in subsea environments. Eelume is also an incubator company in FI Ocean Space Incubator and a member of the Ocean Autonomy Cluster.

Green Bay is a Lillesand-based company dedicated to marine environmental protection and the sustainable use of coastal areas. With expertise in marine engineering, marine biology, and underwater technology, the company focuses on seabed cleanup and eliminating ghost fishing, operating along the Norwegian coastline with partners such as the Institute of Marine Research.

Read also: Revolutionizing Seafloor Mapping: Eelume Redefines Subsea Exploration

Want to learn more?

Thomas Nygaard, CEO, Eelume
thomas.nygaard@eelume.com
Phone: +47 408 73 033
eelume.com 

Tord Aslaksen, managing director, Green-Bay
+47 905 85 894
Email: post@green-bay.no
green-bay.no