Deep water fish and shark surveys with baited video (BRUVS)

The use of baited videos enabled non-destructive sampling of a vast variety (228 species) of fishes, sharks, rays and sea snakes below the limits of safe SCUBA diving. No localised nests of species richness and diversity were detected, but sightings for 42% of all species were restricted to one or other particular area of the six areas surveyed. On average, this restriction to single areas occurred for 53% of the families sighted. About 50% of butterfly fish species were restricted in their distributions to one particular area and this family had important leverage in forcing the community patterns. Two major groupings, and one further, minor grouping, of fish communities were recognised in the Lagoon the seaward lagoon margins, the inner, central lagoon, and a further split away by 2 locations in the innermost lagoon.