Last year, we partnered with Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire to create a modern solution for sea turtle monitoring. Together, we developed an AI system that uses computer vision to identify individual sea turtles based on their unique facial patterns - similar to a fingerprint. This technology allows researchers to track individual turtles over time without invasive tagging methods, making monitoring more efficient and less stressful for the animals.

The success in Bonaire showed us the potential of AI for biodiversity monitoring. When we connected with The Living Ocean Foundation, a non-profit protecting marine ecosystems in East Africa, we saw an opportunity to take this project further.

In Zanzibar, sea turtle populations are declining due to habitat loss, plastic pollution, increasing tourism, and poaching of both turtles and their eggs. Traditional monitoring methods make it difficult to track populations effectively, and coordinating conservation efforts across the region has been challenging. 

Together with The Living Ocean Foundation, we're adapting and expanding our turtle recognition system to meet the unique needs of East African waters.

The new platform will include:

• Centralized data management - enabling standardized data collection and sharing between multiple NGOs across East Africa
• Community-powered data collection - an accessible interface for local partners to submit turtle sightings
• Geotracking and migration analysis - visualizing movement patterns to identify critical habitats and migration routes that need protection

Our goal? To create evidence-based conservation strategies that can inform policy, combat poaching, and support the recovery of these endangered species in Tanzania. The long-term vision is bigger still: this platform could become a central hub for marine wildlife data collection across East Africa, from Kenya down to South Africa, creating a collaborative regional monitoring network.

The Living Ocean Foundation works on the frontlines of marine conservation in East Africa, not just with technology, but with people. Their team - which includes local staff, rangers from the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries, and international volunteers - focuses on community-based protection of turtle nests, long-term ecological monitoring, and scientific research. Their mission is to protect and restore ocean health by empowering local communities, scientists, and conservation teams with accessible tools and data.

Join us in protecting our oceans, one turtle at a time.