EnviroDNA announced as winner of Protection Technology category by Ocean Impact Organisation and Southerly Ten
- eDNA category winner for Ocean Impact Organisation Offshore Wind Net Positive Challenge
-
Innovative tech for balancing Australia's offshore wind energy with ocean health
-
EnviroDNA attending the Australia Wind Energy Conference 2025 in Melbourne
EnviroDNA has been announced as the winner of Protection Technology category by Ocean Impact Organisation and Southerly Ten in the Offshore Wind Net Positive Challenge. As the UN Ocean Conference begins today, we are excited to showcase eDNA technology as a powerful tool to contribute to sustainable wind energy progress in Australia.
The Offshore Wind Net Positive Challenge supports innovative technologies that help protect ocean ecosystems. We have designed eDNA solutions to deliver rapid, actionable marine insights to help offshore wind (OSW) projects understand and reduce ecological impacts and guide positive outcomes.
Thank you to Ocean Impact Organisation and Southerly Ten for the recognition and the opportunity to build new partnerships. eDNA is already transforming OSW monitoring in the UK, and we’re excited to demonstrate its potential here in Australia.
Sustainable wind energy using eDNA
Marine eDNA monitoring extracts the DNA that can be rapidly collected from filtered seawater samples, which comes directly from microscopic organisms and from indirect traces of larger ones. Samples are analysed to identify organisms that are in or near the sampling area from their unique genetic sequences, informed by spatial modelling.
Our approach non-invasively monitors the ocean without trawling, netting, or visual surveys, and reduces disturbance to wildlife. It unlocks insights into marine life across the trees of life including birds, fish, marine mammals, algae, crustaceans and other benthic lifeforms.
The Protection Technology category highlights how the OSW industry can use eDNA to understand and reduce negative impacts on marine communities, a critical component being the early detection of potential risks such as the spread of invasive species and potential wildlife interference due to vessel use. On the positive side, marine infrastructure can also provide new and complex habitat, providing biodiversity and fisheries benefits in some cases – an area of active research.
“We’re proud to support the OSW industry with eDNA technology. This is powerful technology for guiding effective marine ecosystem restoration, empowering communities, and enabling First Nations to monitor and protect sea Country. By doing so, we help redefine how renewable energy progress can be balanced with the health of our oceans.” — Jim Stuart, CEO, EnviroDNA.
What’s next
EnviroDNA has also co-developed a Traditional Owner eDNA Training & Certification Program that supports cultural stewardship of Sea Country. We are currently working with Indigenous rangers across Australia to build technical marine eDNA sampling capacity within communities.
We look forward to building our networks and capacity for eDNA in OSW. EnviroDNA is attending the Australia Wind Energy 2025 (AuWE2025) conference in Melbourne. This is the country's largest onshore and offshore wind energy event and a perfect opportunity to connect, share insights, and showcase the OSW projects we’ve been working on.
We’re proud to be named a category winner in Australia’s first offshore wind innovation challenge by OIO and contribute to solutions that support ocean health and renewable energy progress.
Learn more
Discover a smarter way to monitor the ocean.
We help organisations monitor marine life non-invasively. Our solutions provide a detailed picture of ocean biodiversity, from fish and birds to marine mammals, algae, and even benthic life. Chat with our team about how we can assist your project. Contact info@envirodna.com.
Heading to AuWE2025?
- If you or your organisation will be attending the AuWE2025 Conference, we’d love to connect. Reach out to Nat Rickers, EnviroDNA’s Business Development Lead, at nrickers@envirodna.com to arrange a time to meet.
