How OzFish are using underwater robots
As anglers, we know it’s better down where it’s wetter – that’s where the fish are. OzFish has numerous ways we immerse ourselves in the world of fish, including diving, snorkelling and baited remote underwater video.
Recently, our Vic team added to this list by purchasing an underwater remotely-operated vehicle (UROV).
Underwater ROVs have a vast range of uses, from industry and aquaculture to biosecurity and border protection. Controlling the UROV is like flying a drone in the sky. Only to work underwater, a cable or tether is required. The unit is connected to a remote controller, via a 100-m tether cable, with a phone acting as the viewing screen, and off we go!
It may sound complicated, but it is user-friendly, making viewing the underwater world accessible to our volunteers.
Whilst this is a great education tool helping us show the community their local fish habitats from a fishy perspective, the applications of UROVs go beyond giving OzFishers a fish-eye view of the underwater world.
Our new equipment will aid in the future monitoring of our restoration projects, allowing simple progress checkups on restored locations without even getting our feet wet!
This also enables us to better discuss project outcomes with our partners, undertake biodiversity snapshots and identify and evaluate new fish habitat areas that need our help.
Specifically, we have been busy checking out our future shellfish reef restoration sites for two of our shellfish reef restoration projects in the Bay, the Port Phillip Community Reefs and the Corio Community Reefs projects, in partnership with Melbourne Water and the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, respectively.
Shellfish reefs provide critical fish habitat whilst also help filter nutrients from the water. Historically, over 50% of the seabed of Port Phillip may have been covered in oysters and mussel beds. However, due to dredging fishing since the early 1800s, water quality decline, and many other factors, these shellfish reefs have declined substantially.
Even with many of these pressures stopped or improved, the reefs have not returned on their own. OzFish is doing its part to support shellfish reef restoration in Port Phillip and across the country. Check out more here.
OzFish headed out with Corangamite CMA for its maiden voyage off St Leonards pier, assessing the unit’s potential. With schools of trevally, and other species making an appearance, the equipment passed with flying colours. Check out some of the exciting footage below.
On the other side of the Bay, OzFish and Melbourne Water also recently visited the Blairgowrie Pier to test the new UROV’s potential for monitoring the upcoming reefs. As part of the Port Phillip Community Reefs project, we are restoring a 400 m2 shellfish reef footprint off Mornington.
We saw numerous sponges, nudibranchs, sea stars, anemones, urchins, and types of algae growing in the area, indicative of what other species our shellfish reefs could support. Check out some of the vision below.
These initial monitoring days were a great outcome. The new UROV will be used to keep a close eye on the upcoming reefs, looking out for species using the habitat, such as King George whiting, calamari, and juvenile snapper. So keep on the lookout for some fantastic fishy footage in the future!
The Corio Community Reefs project is supported by the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority through funding from the Australian Government.
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