Fish of the Yongala shipwreck and nearby deep water shoals, central Great Barrier Reef (CRC Reef Research Centre Project)

Five fish surveys were conducted on the wreck of the Yongala between June 1996 and September 1997. In addition, surveys of fish on two nearby deep water shoals, Tink Shoal and the unnamed "Small" Shoal were carried out in May 1997.Fish were surveyed by a visual census method using Log5 abundance estimates. Two dives along the length of the shipwreck were conducted during each visit to the Yongala, with a total observation time of 45 minutes. The bottom of the shipwreck was surveyed on the first dive and during the second dive fish visible from midway down the shipwreck were surveyed. The second dive built on the estimates and species recorded during the first dive. All fish in sight on the shipwreck were counted.A single 25 minute dive was made at each of the shoals. Each dive covered approximately 200m straight line distance and Log 5 abundance of fishes was recorded in an estimated 10m band along the swimming path. Dives on the shoals began at 30m depth and finished on the reef slope at around 15m.Additional observations recorded included habitat type, visibility, currents, the presence of other vessels with divers and fish behaviour. The objective of this project was assess the significance of the Yongala wreck as a fish refuge in the inshore region of the Great Barrier Reef. To achieve this objective the following tasks were identified:1. to compile an species list of the fish associated with the Yongala wreck2. to compare the Yongala fish community with those of nearby deep water shoals3. to assess the relative abundance of different fish species and temporal changes in abundance

1996年6月至1997年9月间，针对扬格拉（Yongala）沉船遗址共开展五次鱼类调查。此外，1997年5月还对附近两处深水浅滩——廷克浅滩（Tink Shoal）与未命名的"小型"浅滩——开展了鱼类调查。
鱼类调查采用视觉普查法，结合Log5丰度估测。每次到访扬格拉沉船时，均沿沉船全长开展两次潜水，总观测时长为45分钟。
首次潜水时对沉船底部进行普查，第二次潜水则统计沉船中段范围内可见的鱼类。
第二次潜水基于首次潜水得到的估测结果与记录物种展开，沉船视野内的所有鱼类均被计数。
两处浅滩各开展一次时长25分钟的潜水。每次潜水的直线行进距离约为200米，沿游动路径以10米估算带宽记录鱼类的Log5丰度。浅滩潜水均从30米水深起始，最终在约15米处的礁坡结束。
本次调查还额外记录了栖息地类型、能见度、海流、搭载潜水员的其他船只情况以及鱼类行为。
本项目的目标为评估扬格拉沉船作为大堡礁（Great Barrier Reef）近岸区域鱼类庇护所的重要性。为达成该目标，确定了以下三项任务：
1. 整理与扬格拉沉船相关的鱼类物种名录；
2. 将扬格拉沉船的鱼类群落与附近深水浅滩的鱼类群落进行对比；
3. 评估不同鱼类物种的相对丰度及丰度的时间变化。