We are searching for topics and funders for the next Longitude Prize. This idea is a draft for discussion about one possible prize focus that we are exploring.
What is the problem?
Established Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) rely on rigid, static geographic boundaries that fail to account for shifting species migrations and dynamic ocean currents under climate change; they are still inefficient and fall short in dynamically monitoring marine ecosystems. At the same time, marine ecosystems are reaching critical tipping points where passive conservation is no longer enough to prevent catastrophic marine heat events and illegal fishing incursions.
Why does the solution contribute to solving this?
Automated geofencing lowers marine management and monitoring costs, creating responsive, real-time protection zones that allow marine populations to recover more rapidly. It lets us shift protected boundaries and make other interventions dynamically based on live data – and deploy targeted interventions directly to sensitive zones, avoiding irreversible ecosystem damage.
Who is the prize awarded to?
Awarded to the team that demonstrates an ocean management system that can use satellite, radar and ocean sensor data to dynamically protech shifting marine ecosystems. Finalists in the prize would demonstrate their solutions in real marine ecosystems, with their impacts – balancing preservation marine life and viability of fisheries – benchmarked against each other and against business-as-usual. The best performing team would win the grand prize.
The best prize ideas are developed through extensive research and engagement with experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience of the problems they are focused on. We start with a first draft like the one above – then work to improve, refine and validate our thinking. If you are interested in sharing your expertise, or helping us secure funding for the next Longitude Prize, please reach out.
