The GuardIAS project recently participated in the International Conference on Marine Bioinvasions 2025 (ICMB2025), presenting cutting-edge research on the monitoring, prevention, and management of aquatic InvasiveSpecies (IAS) in European waters.
GuardIAS, a Horizon Europe initiative, unites 20 partners across academia, research institutes, SMEs, non-profit associations, and policy bodies to develop AI-driven, technology-enabled, and citizen-powered solutions for tackling biological invasions.
At ICMB2025, several GuardIAS contributions highlighted the project’s interdisciplinary impact.
GuardIAS: Emerging Technologies and Citizen Science Against Aquatic Invasive Species in Europe
Presented by Stelios Katsanevakis et al., this talk showcased the integration of artificial intelligence, robotics, eDNA tools, tellite imagery, and CitizenScience to enhance IAS detection, monitoring, and management across all invasion stages.
“What’s Growing Under Your Boat? Alien Species: Intruders That Travel With You”
Poster by Mar Santos-Simón et al., this initiative promotes citizen engagement in marinas, raising awareness among boaters and marina managers about biofouling and encouraging active participation in IAS monitoring through hands-on events and long-term citizen science.
Integrating Macroeconomic Modelling and VesselNetworkAnalysis to Strengthen Marine Biosecurity Management
Presented by Anastasija Zaiko et al., this study introduces an innovative framework combining macroeconomic flow models (MRIO) and vessel network analysis to inform risk-based biosecurity strategies.
GuardIAS demonstrates how ecological science, advanced technologies, and societal engagement can converge to build a resilient Europe against biological invasions.
