OKEANOS

BOMBYX is a passive acoustic monitoring system deployed off the coast of São Jorge Island, Azores, to continuously record the underwater soundscape and improve our understanding of ocean dynamics.

The system consists of four hydrophones suspended at approximately 20 m depth beneath a surface buoy, enabling the detection of sounds produced by cetaceans, vessel traffic, and seismic activity. By combining long-term acoustic monitoring with automated detection algorithms, BOMBYX provides valuable data on the occurrence and distribution of species such as baleen whales, sperm whales and dolphins, while also documenting the contribution of natural and anthropogenic sources to the marine acoustic environment.

Developed within the framework of the EUROPAM project, BOMBYX contributes to a broader effort to compare soundscapes across European marine regions, including the Azores, Norway, France and Italy. The data collected will support research on ocean noise and help advance mitigation strategies aimed at reducing the risk of collisions between vessels and large whales.

The system will also contribute to the validation of emerging acoustic monitoring technologies, including the use of submarine fibre-optic cables for marine observations.

From deployment at sea to data analysis onshore, projects like BOMBYX highlight the growing role of passive acoustics in marine research, providing a non-invasive way to monitor biodiversity and better understand the processes shaping life beneath the ocean surface.

News:
https://www.acorianooriental.pt/noticia/instalado-sistema-de-monitorizacao-acustica-ao-largo-de-sao-jorge-380394
https://diariodosacores.pt/2026/07/20/imar-quer-instalar-sistema-cientifico-bombyx-ao-largo-de-sao-jorge/
https://www.publico.pt/2026/09/05/ciencia/noticia/acores-vao-sistema-inovador-ajudara-proteger-cabos-submarinos-2187143

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