Ocean Power Technologies Inc (NYSE-A:OPTT) (OPT) has announced a contract with WildAid and Caribbean Law Enforcement partners aimed to protect vital marine species and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities in critical habitats using OPT's state-of-the-art uncrewed technologies.
The provider of ocean energy and intelligent data services said it will provide WildAid and their Caribbean Law Enforcement partners with an OPT WAM-V 16 Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) equipped with an integrated quadcopter aerial drone, which will empower law enforcement agencies and conservation organizations to safeguard marine life from illegal harvesting while ensuring the sustainability of these critical ecosystems.
"This is a natural extension of our work in the defense and offshore energy markets, and we are proud to contribute to this crucial effort to protect marine species and their habitats," OPT CEO Philipp Stratmann said in a statement.
"We believe these kinds of autonomous deployments will also be of great interest for applications such as border protection and homeland security," he added.
OPT noted that its collaboration with WildAid and Caribbean Law Enforcement will harness the power of uncrewed surface and air assets to identify, track, and collect data from individuals seeking to disrupt the pattern of life and threaten the environment through their illicit activities.
The company added that the technologies will provide unprecedented, networked surveillance capabilities and evidence collection, allowing authorities to gather critical information and support legal actions while keeping personnel safely out of harm's way until the precise time and conditions favor interdiction efforts.
Ocean Power Technologies is a provider of ocean energy and intelligent data services through its innovative, low carbon distributed and autonomous ocean power and data solutions, combined with its offshore engineering and design services.
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