Department of AI and EcoMarine Malta Launch ECHO-AI Project

EcoMarine Malta, in collaboration with the University of Malta, is proud to announce the launch of ECHO-AI – Enhancing Cetacean Habitat Observation through Artificial Intelligence, a new initiative funded through Xjenza Malta’s Technology Extension Support, designed to support research, development, and innovation (RDI) through strong collaboration between public entities and industry partners.

Building on the EcoMarine Malta DelfishPAM project, which collected over 1,000 hours of underwater acoustic recordings through Passive Acoustic Monitoring, ECHO-AI introduces an advanced artificial intelligence system designed to transform the way dolphin vocalisations and underwater noise are analysed. The project will use both existing acoustic datasets and new field recordings to train and optimise machine-learning models capable of identifying key sound patterns.

To prepare the data required for accurate AI development, the full 1,000+ hours of recordings will be manually reviewed, listened to, and catalogued to create high-quality labelled datasets. In collaboration with the Artificial Intelligence Department at the University of Malta, the initiative will develop an automated system that uses advanced spectrogram analysis techniques to detect dolphin vocalisations and distinguish them from common noise sources typically found around aquaculture environments. This technology will significantly reduce the time and effort currently required for manual analysis while enhancing accuracy, consistency, and overall monitoring efficiency.

By strengthening the capacity to process and interpret acoustic data, the system will improve Malta’s ability to track cetacean behaviour, assess noise pollution, and support evidence-based marine management. The project represents an important step forward in merging technology and marine science, while also laying the groundwork for scalable long-term biodiversity monitoring across the Mediterranean Sea.

The project team includes EcoMarine Malta founder Patrizia Patti; PhD student Sofia Rinalduzzi from the University of Tor Vergata, Rome, together with her supervisor Antonella Silvia Pace; junior research assistant Sharon Falzon from EcoMarine Malta; and Prof. Matthew Montebello, Dr Kristian Guillaumier and Mr Mark Mifsud from the Department of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Malta’s Faculty of ICT.

For more information, please contact EcoMarine Malta via email.