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The effect of marine seismic surveys on the movement, abundance and community structure of demersal fish assemblages on the North West Shelf

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 19:34 authored by Meekan, MG, Speed, CW, McCauley, RD, Jayson SemmensJayson Semmens, Newman, SJ, Fisher, R, Parsons, MJG

In 2018, the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and its partners, conducted an experiment to investigate the effect of exposure to a 3D seismic survey on demersal fishes. The experiment involved the use of a commercial seismic vessel equipped with a 2600 cubic inch air-gun array, sailing a racetrack pattern with eight operational (high exposure zone) and eight inactive (vessel control zone) sail lines, with a 500 m sequential line separation and ≈18 m shot point spacing. The high exposure and vessel control lines were separated by 35 km. Demersal fishes were observed in five sampling surveys over a 6-month period (three surveys before and two after exposure), using acoustic telemetry and stereo baited remote underwater videos systems (BRUVS). The telemetry component included the capture, tagging with acoustic transmitters and release of 387 red emperor (Lutjanus sebae) within two telemetry receiver arrays. These arrays, one in each zone, comprised 37 and 39 acoustic receivers over ≈32 km2, to record movements of tagged fish. The receivers provided near-continuous data on tag locations, and, hence, movement of fish in the area, until removal in December 2018. During each sampling survey, BRUVS were deployed at various distances from the area of the seismic survey. Study results are currently being finalised for presentation.

History

Publication title

The APPEA Journal

Volume

60

Pagination

480-485

ISSN

2206-8996

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

CSIRO Publishing

Place of publication

Australia

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Assessment and management of benthic marine ecosystems

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