Oysters reporting water quality? Not science fiction!

Can you use sentinel oysters and other mollusks to track water quality near your cities, beaches, or the Great Barrier Reef?

Actually ... yes.

In this episode of TechFirst, host John Koetsier chats with the CEO of Moloscan, a company focused on bio-monitoring and protection of marine environments using live shellfish.

The company uses aquatic bivalves, such as oysters, mussels, or clams to monitor the environment. These mollusks, which are filter feeders, react to changes in water conditions, helping to detect pollution and other disruptions in water quality.

The discussion covers the technological developments and rigorous research necessary to map out the normal behaviour of these animals and provide accurate water quality ratings. They also discuss how this method is more efficient and environmentally friendly compared to traditional mechanical probes and lab tests.

The CEO shares examples of installations in varied environments, ranging from oil and gas platforms to diverse geographical locations from Quebec to Qatar.

00:00 Introduction to Sentinel Oysters and Water Quality Monitoring
00:55 Understanding the Concept of Biomonitoring
01:48 The Science Behind Mollusk Behavior and Detection
02:43 The Journey of Developing the Monitoring Device
04:24 Understanding the Sensitivity and Precision of Mollusks
05:12 The Role of Mollusks in Detecting Water Pollution
08:06 The Technical Aspects of Monitoring Mollusk Behavior
10:43 The Real-world Application of Mollusk Monitoring
15:34 The Challenges and Benefits of Using Mollusks as Sensors
22:51 The Potential for Expanding the Technique to Other Biomes
06:24 Conclusion: The Future of Biomonitoring