Towed Video deployments to address strategic knowledge gaps in the Oceanic Shoals bioregion 2014, Western Australia (AIMS)

Towed video surveys between were carried out in targeted shallow seabed environments within and adjacent to the proposed Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR) in the Timor Sea. The survey concentrated on shelf habitats (< 200m) of the Oceanic Shoals CMR and included potential biodiversity hotspots such as pinnacles, banks and shoals. In total, 48 towed video transects were collected at depths of between 17.2 and 89 metres. Sampling involved habitat classification, conducted in real-time during the surveys, and taking downward and forward facing photographic still images at 5 second intervals for subsequent analysis. The cameras were towed across the shoals at a speed of 0.5 - 1.5 knots at an altitude of 0.5 - 2 metres above the seabed. The survey was undertaken by the Australian Institute of Marine Science between May 8 and May 16 2014 on the AIMS Research Vessel, RV Solander, and aimed to address strategic knowledge gaps in the Oceanic Shoals bioregion.