Biodiversity of the Exmouth Navy Pier, WA

Two surveys were carried out within the environs of the Navy Pier at Exmouth to ascertain the biodiversity of the fish and coral assemblages resident within. This pier is a very popular dive site renowned for the quality (and quantity) of the fish life. The first survey (9 - 11 March 1996) was of species presence/absence while the second survey (2 - 6 April 2001) included abundance estimates of the fish assemblage. The sampling regime for each survey was the same. Two transects were videoed for each pylon included in the survey. Video footage was taken swimming from the surface to the bottom of the pylon on one side and whilst returning to the surface on the opposite side. A total of 17 pylons were surveyed using this technique. General video footage was also taken of the surrounding habitat to help with identification of fish and benthic organisms. The video tapes were analysed using AVTAS - a quantitative benthic analysis package developed by AIMS. A comprehensive list of the fish fauna associated with the pier, dolphins, and immediate surrounds, was obtained through visual census whilst using SCUBA. For the 2001 survey fish numbers were estimated using Log5 abundance categories.