BlueTech around the world

Coral reefs are the rainforests of the sea.
They cover less than 0.1% of the ocean surface, yet support up to 30% of all marine life, protect coasts, feed millions of people, and fuel tourism and local economies.
Now imagine this: under the pressure of climate change, pollution and human activity, up to 90% of coral reefs could disappear by 2050.
In this episode, we explore a different kind of ocean innovation: listening to the reef.
My guest, Yann Bayle, PhD in Artificial Intelligence applied to sound analysis and co-founder & CTO of Reef Pulse, is turning coral reefs into data using AI-powered passive acoustic monitoring to understand, protect, and even restore these critical ecosystems.
From decoding the “orchestra” of reef life to using underwater speakers to guide coral larvae back to degraded reefs, this conversation is about how sound + science + entrepreneurship can become a powerful tool for regeneration.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:
The origin story of Reef Pulse: from Reunion Island to AI for the ocean

Why coral is an animal, how bleaching works, and what threatens reefs today

The key ecosystem services coral reefs provide to people and coastal communities

The limits of traditional monitoring (divers, satellites, eDNA) and how ecoacoustics changes the game

How Reef Pulse uses AI to record, clean and analyze underwater soundscapes

The difference between healthy vs degraded reef soundscapes

What acoustic restoration is and how underwater speakers can help larvae settle faster

How Reef Pulse balances impact, business models (B2G/B2B) and low-footprint technology

Yann’s advice for young innovators building marine projects with new technologies

 
Key question:
How can we use AI and sound to listen to coral reefs, protect them in real time, and even help bring them back to life—without adding new pressure on the ocean?

Connect with our guest:
🔗 Reef Pulse : https://reef-pulse.com/en/index.php
🔗 Yann Bayle : https://www.linkedin.com/in/yannbayle/

Resources and Links:
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Connect with us on Instagram: @bluetechpodcast

Watch our episodes on YouTube: BlueTech Around the World

Visit our Website: https://www.bluetech-podcast.com/

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share your favorite episodes to help us spotlight the incredible innovations shaping our oceans. 🌊

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and cutting-edge blue technologies!

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A voice crackles over the radio. Panic. A fire onboard. No location. No number of people. Silence.
Now imagine if AI could step in, capture the message, fill in the gaps, call for help, save lives.

In this episode, we explore how a distress call during a sailing trip became the starting point of a deeptech journey aiming to transform VHF,  the “walkie-talkie of the ocean”,  into a real-time intelligent safety assistant powered by AI.

From hackathon to mission-critical deployment with the French Coast Guard (CROSS), discover how maritime safety may be on the verge of a leapfrog moment.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:
·        The origin story: a real Mayday call that sparked an innovation journey
·        Ocean Hackathon → prototype: 48 hours together, pure focus, and nonstop feedback loops
·        Why it was hard at first: Big Tech overlooked maritime, no relevant data to train models
·        Why VHF fails under stress (no replay, accents, missing info) and how AI helps operators capture the essentials
·        From B2C to B2B/B2G: co-developing with CROSS for mission-critical use, on-site immersion in operations
·        The smartphone effect at sea: “rent a boat with an app” → more people, less trained VHF users → too many distress calls
·        The tech, simply: speech-to-text with domain models, call classification, searchable logs, supervisor overview
·        Data, not hype: why general AI fails at sea and why annotated maritime data (from CROSS) wins
·        Dual-use angles: from safety to security, piracy comms, multilingual signals, and situational awareness
·        Data protection done right: on-prem vs EU cloud, GDPR, certifications & sovereign choices
·        Go-to-market reality: competitors, differentiation, and value-based licensing.
·        Founder lessons: team fit, funding via contests, patience, and momentum
 
Key question:
How do you turn noisy VHF distress calls into life-saving decisions without overwhelming operators or compromising data security?Thank you for listening to BlueTech Around the World! 🌊✨

🔗 LinkedIn: Vaiata Dynamics
🔗 Guest: Édouard Vallet

💡 Resources and Links:
Follow us on LinkedIn: BlueTech Podcast

Connect with us on Instagram: @bluetechpodcast

Watch our episodes on YouTube: BlueTech Around the World

Visit our Website: https://www.bluetech-podcast.com/

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share your favorite episodes to help us spotlight the incredible innovations shaping our oceans. 🌊

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and cutting-edge blue technologies!

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Are digital twins enough to revolutionize aquaculture? Not quite.
The real power lies in shared ocean data , and Norway’s AquaCloud is proving it.

In this episode, we dive into the story behind AquaCloud, the industry-led “love child” of Norwegian aquaculture that is breaking down data silos to unlock collaboration, sustainability, and smarter decision-making.

Discover how over 60 data parameters (from fish welfare to oceanographic conditions) are transformed into actionable insights that help fish farmers anticipate sea lice outbreaks, researchers accelerate innovation, and the entire industry move from digitization to true digital transformation.

We also explore the challenges of data governance, privacy, and standardization, and look ahead to what’s next: federated AI, remote operations, robotic swarms, and a new mindset for the future of aquaculture.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:
Why shared data matters more than digital twins

AquaCloud’s journey from idea to startup

Governance, anonymization, and GDPR in aquaculture

Accelerating research through standardized data

How small farms benefit as much as big players

The future: AI, robotics, and dynamic offshore farms

 
Key question:
How do you design a neutral, trusted data platform that protects company-sensitive information yet delivers shared value, for farmers, researchers, and the ocean?

🎧 If you’re passionate about blue tech, aquaculture innovation, or ocean AI, hit subscribe and share this episode with someone who should hear it.

Connect with our guest:
🌐 Website: AquaCloud (aquacloud.ai)
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjorgolfurhavardsson/

Thank you for listening to BlueTech Around the World! 🌊✨

💡 Resources and Links:
Follow us on LinkedIn: BlueTech Podcast

Connect with us on Instagram: @bluetechpodcast

Watch our episodes on YouTube: BlueTech Around the World

Visit our Website: https://www.bluetech-podcast.com/

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share your favorite episodes to help us spotlight the incredible innovations shaping our oceans. 🌊

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and cutting-edge blue technologies!

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Can we protect ships, offshore wind, and aquaculture without harming marine ecosystems?

In this episode of BlueTech Around the World, we dive into the hidden yet costly challenge of marine biofouling.
The build-up of algae, barnacles, and other organisms on underwater surfaces. This natural process drastically increases fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and maintenance costs for the entire maritime industry.

Yet, traditional antifouling paints often come with toxic side effects for marine life. So how can we innovate smarter, greener solutions?

To unpack this complex topic and share real-world insights, I’m joined by Professor Christine Bressy, a leading scientist in antifouling innovation and head of the MAPIEM laboratory in Toulon, France.
With over 28 years of experience bridging chemistry, environmental science, and industrial applications, Christine shares how her team is developing biocide-free coatings, biomimetic surfaces, and integrated cleaning technologies to protect vessels and structures while respecting ocean health.

🔹 In this episode:
• What is marine biofouling and why it costs billions every year
• The environmental impact of biocidal coatings and global regulations
• How antifouling technologies work: biocidal vs. fouling-release paints
• Challenges for static infrastructures like offshore wind and aquaculture
• Emerging innovations: smart polymers, shark-skin inspired surfaces, robots & real-time monitoring
• What’s next: biopolymer-based, biodegradable, silicone-free coatings
• Advice for young ocean innovators entering this critical field

Key question:
How can we balance efficient maritime operations with ocean health, using new antifouling technologies that prevent biofouling without harming marine ecosystems?

Thank you for listening to BlueTech Around the World! 🌊✨

💡 Resources and Links:
Follow us on LinkedIn: BlueTech Podcast

Connect with us on Instagram: @bluetechpodcast

Watch our episodes on YouTube: BlueTech Around the World

Visit our Website: https://www.bluetech-podcast.com/

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share your favorite episodes to help us spotlight the incredible innovations shaping our oceans. 🌊

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and cutting-edge blue technologies!

BlueTech Around the World — the Blue Connection Podcast.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode of BlueTech Around the World, we dive deep into the rising issue of underwater noise pollution, a silent but widespread threat caused by human activities like shipping, port construction, and offshore energy.

Beneath the waves, what was once called the “silent world” is now buzzing with noise that disrupts communication, navigation, and survival for marine species.
To unpack the challenge and explore cutting-edge solutions, I’m joined by Gwenaël Desse, Chief Business Officer at Greenov, the French startup behind the SubSea Quieter, a patented mitigation system that reduces noise and turbidity during offshore and coastal operations.
With a unique path from naval defense to ocean protection, Gwenaël shares how Greenov’s patented technology reduces harmful noise from pile driving, port works, and vessel operations while offering measurable business and environmental benefits.
 
🔹 In this episode:
• Why ocean noise matters  and how it impacts whales, dolphins, fish, and marine ecosystems
• How the SubSea Quieter works
• Business case: reduced operational costs, emissions, and acoustic risks
• Integrating noise mitigation in a broader ecosystem of marine protection
• What’s next in innovation: real-time monitoring, deep-water adaptation, and metamaterials

[sponsoring] This episode is proudly supported by Team Nice Côte d’Azur, the agency supporting business establishment and growth on the French Riviera.
Nice Ocean Business Forum, June 9–11 2025.
June 9 – Economic Attractiveness & Investment Day
👉 Register now (free & open to all): business.nicecotedazur.org/nice-ocean-business-forum-us
 
Connect with our guest:
Website: www.greenov.green
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwenael-desse-364b4482/

 
 Resources and Links:
Follow us on LinkedIn: BlueTech Podcast

Connect with us on Instagram: @bluetechpodcast

Watch our episodes on YouTube: BlueTech Around the World

Visit our Website: https://www.bluetech-podcast.com/

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share your favorite episodes to help us spotlight the incredible innovations shaping our oceans. 🌊

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and cutting-edge blue technologies!

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.