Development of robots that can monitor outbreaks of red tide is underway. The National Fisheries Research and Development Institute said Friday it is in the early stages of building a surveillance robot.

A red tide occurs when algae accumulates rapidly in water, sometimes producing natural toxins. The most evident consequences are fatalities among marine and coastal wildlife.

The buoy-shaped robot will be equipped with a data transmitter and color-recognition sensor. Floating in the ocean near fish farms, it will take underwater photographs and send them to a computer on land. The robot will send red tide notifications to associated institutions and fish farms.