Satellite observations recorded 2,060 boat detections in the environmentally sensitive marine areas of Lady’s Mile, Latchi-Akamas and Cape Greco during selected summer periods in 2024 and 2025.
The study was carried out by Cyprus technology company PERIOPSIS Ltd in collaboration with the Marine and Environmental Research (MER) Lab and Finn Lageveen, a Creative Technology student at the University of Twente in the Netherlands.
Gaps in vessel monitoring
The boat detections were identified using PERIOPSIS’s AI-powered vessel detection service, which uses visible-spectrum satellite imagery to identify vessels at sea.
The results were then compared with Automatic Identification System (AIS) data, through which vessels transmit information about their identity and movements.
Of the 2,060 boat detections, 1,114, or about 54%, did not correspond to an available AIS signal.
The study said this highlighted a significant monitoring gap between vessels visible from space and those appearing in conventional tracking systems, underlining the potential value of satellite monitoring.
Sensitive marine ecosystems
The three areas covered by the study contain ecologically important coastal habitats, including underwater Posidonia meadows.
These meadows provide important feeding and nursery grounds for marine species, support biodiversity, help protect coastlines and contribute to carbon sequestration.
The study noted that Posidonia grows slowly, meaning damage can occur within seconds but may persist for decades, making prevention particularly important.
Actual activity could be higher
The satellite observations do not reconstruct the complete route of each vessel, but they indicate repeated vessel presence and areas where activity is concentrated.
The researchers also cautioned that the 2,060 detections may represent only part of the actual activity, as the analysis was based on one satellite observation per day.
Combining satellite monitoring with AIS data and patrols could provide a more complete picture of activity in sensitive marine waters and help identify persistent monitoring gaps.
The study also suggested that regular satellite observations, together with on-site marine monitoring and seabed surveys, could help identify pressure caused by anchoring, assess potential impacts and support the protection of important marine ecosystems and the species they support.
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