Year in Review: 2025 Highlights from the Triton Initiative
As 2025 came to a close, and we moved into the new year, the Triton team reflected on all we’ve accomplished alongside our partners.
The Triton Initiative aims to reduce barriers to permitting and facilitating the deployment of marine energy devices by contributing knowledge and data around potential environmental impacts.
Each year, the projects and research efforts evolve, but the mission stays the same. In 2025, Triton conducted tank‑based particle motion experiments at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), tested acoustic imaging technologies at the University of New Hampshire, experimented with strain gauges to detect collision with underwater turbines at the University of Washington (UW) Alice C. Tyler flume, led a panel at the Ocean Renewable Energy Conference, and engaged with marine energy regulators across the U.S. to learn how they utilize information. As we reflect on a productive year of research, fieldwork, lessons learned, and partnership building, here are some highlights from Triton in 2025.
Progress in Particle Motion Research
Triton’s Acoustic Particle Motion research, led by Triton principal investigator Joe Haxel, is working to fill knowledge gaps surrounding the effects of acoustic particle motion and substrate vibration emissions from offshore renewable energy on fish and invertebrates. Through this collaborative project, Triton researchers are conducting tank-based acoustic and substrate vibration exposure experiments at PNNL-Richland and PNNL-Sequim.
The Triton team has completed low frequency sound exposure experiments exploring physiological effects from marine energy-related acoustic particle motion emissions on yearling Chinook salmon. In a tank experiment conducted at the PNNL-Richland Aquatic Research Laboratory, the salmon were exposed to acoustic particle motion stimuli and had samples drawn to measure stress biomarkers (e.g., glucose, lactate, and cortisol levels) at different time intervals after exposure. These results will be compared to control fish, not exposed to the acoustic signals, to ensure we are identifying an accurate response.
Researchers retrieve the fish for stress hormone tests after acoustic exposures. (Photo by Andrea Starr | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
Additionally, the Triton team is ramping up a substrate vibration tank experiment at PNNL-Sequim with Dungeness crabs. These tests aim to understand crab sensitivity and behavioral responses to marine energy-related substrate vibration. Stay tuned for more on these tank tests in the new year!
Male Dungeness crab eating a mussel during feeding time in the holding tank in Sequim. (Photo by Joe Haxel | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
Interested in learning more about particle motion—what it is, why it matters, and Triton’s research in this area? Check out Triton’s informational resources and publications about acoustic particle motion!
The Imaging Sonar Capabilities (ISC) project, led by Emma Cotter and Garrett Staines, is working to characterize the capabilities of imaging sonars for fish collision monitoring and develop a publicly available dataset that includes artificial targets approaching an operational turbine. The team recently traveled to the University of New Hampshire (UNH), where they tested two different imaging sonars that are frequently used for environmental monitoring at marine energy sites (the Sound Metrics Corporation ARIS 3000 and the Tritech Gemini 1200ik). Through this testing, they hope to develop a better understanding of the capabilities and limitations for detecting small, fish-sized targets around riverine and tidal stream turbines.
Understanding the capabilities of acoustic cameras for fish collision monitoring at the University of New Hampshire Chase Ocean Engineering Laboratory. (Photos by Garrett Staines | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
Blade Integrated Collision Detection
The Blade Integrated Collision Detection (BICD) project, led by Emma Cotter,Molly Grear, and Abbigale (Abby) Snortland, explores the use of strain gauges to detect animal collision with underwater turbines. Last year they demonstrated the ability to detect collisions. This year, the project conducted experiments to determine whether collisions can be detected with similar accuracy in non-idealized and realistic flow with turbulent conditions.
In June, Molly and Abby kicked off a round of laboratory testing in the University of Washington Harris Hydraulics Laboratory Flume, co-supported by the Testing Expertise and Access to Marine Energy Research (TEAMER)program. They used blue silicone models—or surrogates—in the experimental flume under various flow conditions to simulate animal collisions with a cross-flow turbine. The experiment is leveraging new capabilities at the flume facility that can produce more turbulent flow than before. This month the team is finishing up another round of experiments before diving into the data!
Testing marine mammal collision simulations in turbulent conditions using silicone models in Harris Hydraulics Laboratory at University of Washington. (Photos by Molly Grear | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
Science Communication Research Underway!
Triton’s End-User Engagement and Evaluation (E3) Study, led by Kevin Duffy and Cailene Gunn, is working to understand how Triton’s audiences seek and process information to inform decision-making for the marine energy industry. In 2025, the E3 Study team conducted interviews with regulators, scientific advisors, and consultants that centered around perspectives on information needs related to environmental effects, and how they access and use information. The team is currently analyzing the qualitative data, which will inform the development of targeted communications content for the regulatory community.
BioSonics Completes Demonstrations in Sequim Bay
The BioSonics team deploys the Marine Life Observer in the Sequim Bay channel. (Photo by Shanon Dell | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
Since 2016, Triton has supported BioSonics Inc. on the testing and development of their Omnidirectional Marine Life Observer technology. This monitoring technology is a synchronized 360-degree, marine mammal-friendly sonar with a long-range detection, classification, and reporting system.
The Marine Life Observer gathers reliable data on location, depth, behavior, general type of marine life, key environmental changes, and can be used to support monitoring and maintenance of marine technology deployments. After several iterations of field testing, development, and optimizing the technology and its data processing capabilities, BioSonics completed its final demonstration in December of 2025!
In August, several Triton researchers attended the UMERC + Ocean Renewable Energy Conference in Corvallis, Oregon. At the conference, Joe Haxel chaired a panel titled “Environmental Technology Readiness for Marine Energy.” This session highlighted successful environmental monitoring technology development investments made by the U.S. Department of Energy Water Power Technologies Office.
Triton helped each of these developers move through their technology readiness goals. The panel highlighted recipients of technical assistance through a WPTO funding opportunity announcement, and they highlighted the progress they’ve made over the last decade following this support. Panelists included President and CEO of BioSonics, Tim Acker, Director of Research and Development at Integral Consulting, Grace Chang, Founder and President of MarineSitu, James Joslin, Professor of mechanical engineering at UW, Brian Polagye, and PNNL Senior Advisor and researcher, Andrea Copping.
Triton Team Highlights
This year, Triton Stories highlighted two researchers and engineers working to advance environmental monitoring technologies and methods to understand the potential effects of marine energy. Abby, a post-doctoral research associate at PNNL, is bringing her expertise in fluid mechanics to Triton by supporting the Blade Integrated Collision Detection (BICD) project. Read more about how Abby is making waves in marine energy engineering here.
Abby Snortland running cross-flow turbine experiments in the Alice C. Tyler flume with Greg Tapley, a research engineer at the University of Washington. (Photo courtesy of Abby Snortland | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
Marg Daly, an Earth scientist and oceanographer at PNNL, is combining her expertise in physical oceanography and ML by leading Triton’s Data Annotation for Marine Monitoring (DAMM) project. Through this project, Marg is exploring opportunities to use AI and ML to improve efficiencies for data processing and analysis of environmental datasets around marine energy deployments. Read more about Marg’s path to marine energy research here.
Marg Daly enjoying a day at her favorite place: the beach. (Photo courtesy of Marg Daly | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
Emma Cotter Appointed Associate Director of PMEC
This year, Triton’s Emma Cotter was appointed an associate director of the Pacific Marine Energy Center (PMEC). PMEC is a consortium of universities that brings together researchers from the UW, Oregon State University, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks to advance marine energy through research, outreach, and education. In this role, Emma will work with PMEC leadership at the UW to develop high‑level strategy for the organization and support programming while strengthening the relationship between PMEC and the national laboratories. Read more about Emma’s new role with PMEC here.
Emma Cotter was recently appointed associate director of the Pacific Marine Energy Center. (Photo courtesy of Emma Cotter | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
The Nereus Project is a PNNL research effort that collects and analyzes comprehensive monitoring data around operational marine energy sites and devices in the United States. The team recently published a report presenting results from passive acoustic monitoring conducted around a cross-flow riverine turbine in the Kvichak River near Igiugig, Alaska. Titled “Passive Acoustic Monitoring of a Riverine Turbine with Stationary Hydrophones,” the report presents findings that shed light on the acoustic properties of current energy converters and the complex sound propagation dynamics within river environments. Read the report: https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/3008470
eDNA for Monitoring Fish at Marine Energy Project Sites
PNNL researchers recently published a new fact sheet on the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) for monitoring fish at marine energy project sites. eDNA, the collection of genetic material shed by organisms in their environment, can be used to identify species of interest across different environments and serve as a tool for monitoring the environmental effects of marine energy devices. For more information, read the fact sheet here!
Happy New Year from the Triton Initiative!
As 2026 begins, the Triton team wishes you a happy, healthy start to the new year! We’ve accomplished so much in 2025, due in large part to our partners and support from our sponsor. We extend gratitude to our collaborators—and to our readers—for following along and supporting Triton’s research. We look forward to sharing updates from new research efforts launching in 2026.
If you would like to receive additional information or want to reach out to the Triton team, email us at tritonmre@pnnl.gov. If you know someone who might enjoy Triton updates, please forward this newsletter along!
Triton is designed to support the development and testing of more precise and cost-effective environmental monitoring technologies for marine energy. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory leads Triton on behalf of the Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office.
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