New research from Monash University and Phillip Island Nature Parks has introduced an innovative use of thermal and infrared drone technology to detect marine debris entanglements affecting Australian fur seals. This study highlights the escalating threat of marine debris, which poses significant risks to wildlife, including injury and increased energy expenditure, particularly during the breeding season.
Published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, the research focused on the large breeding colony of Australian fur seals located at Seal Rocks, southwest of Phillip Island in Victoria. Researchers conducted 54 drone surveys utilizing both colour (RGB) cameras and thermal infrared (TIR) imaging to effectively identify entanglements. The results revealed that entanglements were often visible in thermal imaging due to elevated heat signatures at the sites of the incidents.
The study found that similar thermal anomalies were detected in 81 percent of the drone observations that combined RGB and TIR technology, with an impressive 95 percent agreement among human reviewers. Lead author Adam Yaney-Keller, a PhD candidate from the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University, emphasized the groundbreaking nature of this research.
“Our findings demonstrated that entanglements have a heat signature we can detect from over 50 metres in the air using a drone,” Yaney-Keller explained. “This allows for easier identification of entanglements while minimizing disturbances to the fur seals at their breeding sites.”
Importantly, the study noted that fishing line entanglements, often difficult to detect in previous drone-based methods, were successfully identified using the dual RGB and TIR imagery. This advancement not only provides insights into the entanglement problem but also serves as a crucial indicator of the broader marine wildlife crisis.
With Seal Rocks being the world’s largest breeding site for Australian fur seals, the prevalence of fishing line entanglements is particularly concerning. The new technology significantly enhances the ability to detect such hazards, thereby increasing opportunities for wildlife intervention and rescue.
An unexpected finding from the research was the clear visibility of other injuries, such as shark bites, in the thermal imaging, suggesting that this technique could be applied to larger monitoring projects across marine ecosystems.
Rebecca McIntosh, a Marine Scientist at Phillip Island Nature Parks, described the use of thermal drones as a significant breakthrough in conservation efforts. “This technology allows us to see subtle heat signatures that reveal injuries and entanglements from the air that are often difficult to detect,” Dr. McIntosh stated. “By detecting at-risk seals earlier, we can intervene with better information, ultimately improving welfare outcomes for individuals and understanding trends in entanglement impacts on the population.”
The researchers have begun sharing their innovative technique with the wider marine science community. Recently, they successfully trialed the same technology with the City of Cape Town and the Two Oceans Aquarium in South Africa, focusing on Cape fur seals, and achieved similar results.
“By combining innovation with our longstanding commitment to the conservation of marine wildlife, we’re gaining a clearer picture of how marine debris can affect seal colonies and what we can do to protect them,” Dr. McIntosh concluded.
For further details, the full research paper can be accessed at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119456.
