The JAL Group and Hokkaido University have started marine observations using regular scheduled flights.
From the summer of 2025, a multispectral camera for observation will be mounted on the lower rear part of the fuselage panel of Hokkaido Air System’s ATR42-600 aircraft (aircraft number: JA13HC) to monitor red tides.
The targeted routes are Sapporo/Okadama to Hakodate & Rishiri and Hakodate to Okushiri, covering Hakodate Bay, Funka Bay, Okushiri Strait, and Rishiri Channel, with Hakodate Bay being the focus in the initial phase of observation.
The captured images will be transferred to Hokkaido University, where Professor Akihide Kasai from the Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences will use a developed method for detecting red tides to visualize their distribution. Early detection of red tides and prompt information provision to fisheries stakeholders will prevent potential damage to the fishery industry.
With the increase in red tide occurrences due to global warming, Hokkaido faced damages exceeding 9.7 billion yen in 2021. Frequent and extensive observations are necessary to detect red tides early and prevent damage, and regular flights operating the same routes frequently are expected to be useful for monitoring red tides.
There are future considerations to broadly apply this method for environmental monitoring of forests and oceans as well.
