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.

本研究在帝汶海（Timor Sea）内拟建的洋滩英联邦海洋保护区（Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve, CMR）及其毗邻区域的目标浅海海底环境中开展拖曳式视频调查。调查聚焦于该保护区的陆架生境（水深<200米），并覆盖了尖峰礁、滩涂及浅滩等潜在生物多样性热点区域。本次调查共完成48条拖曳视频样带，采样水深介于17.2米至89米之间。调查过程中同步开展生境分类，并以每5秒1次的频率采集朝下及朝前的静态摄影图像，用于后续分析。调查设备以0.5至1.5节的航速，在海底上方0.5至2米的高度处拖曳通过浅滩区域。本次调查由澳大利亚海洋科学研究所（Australian Institute of Marine Science, AIMS）于2014年5月8日至5月16日期间，搭载“索兰德号”科考船（RV Solander）实施，旨在填补洋滩生物地理区的战略知识空白。