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Extensive underwater camera network to monitor and protect ocean wildlife and blue economies

The ocean wildlife and diverse ecosystems of the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) will soon be more visible than ever thanks to pioneering work to establish a major network of underwater camera deployments.

Funded as part of the UK Government Blue Belt programme, scientists from Cefas, the University of Western Australia and partners in the UKOTs are working with Blue Abacus, in a world first to supply and analyse the data collected from 66 non-intrusive stereo-Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVS), which will be deployed in open ocean and coastal habitats.

Together these BRUVS will form the Global Ocean Wildlife Analysis Network, which will provide information on ocean biodiversity and ecosystems found in the vast maritime and coastal areas of the UKOTs in the Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Southern Ocean.

The UKOTs involved in the project are: Anguilla, Ascension Island, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St Helena and Tristan da Cunha.

BRUVS will enable researchers to see below the surface and provide a benchmark of scientific understanding of the marine species within their maritime area, allowing the UKOTs to take more informed decisions about protecting and managing these diverse ecosystems.

The data the cameras collect will provide a standard measure of the status of both open ocean and reef species, letting scientists and the UKOTs set benchmarks for diversity and abundances. This will form valuable information on the many migratory species of open ocean and coastal reef fish species, assist in the management of data-poor fisheries and also improve our understanding of the functioning of pelagic and benthic ecosystems.

Co-founder of Blue Abacus and Professor at the University of Western Australia, Jessica Meeuwig said:

“The world’s tunas, sharks and large reef fish continue to decline in numbers and this trend must be reversed. This programme will give decision makers the evidence they need to act decisively in support of their blue economies.

“We are delighted that the UK Government and Overseas Territories support the drive for increased knowledge as we rebuild our oceans. Our refinements to conventional underwater cameras are what makes possible the rollout of this programme over four ocean basins, the largest single such government-supported initiative globally.

“We look forward to working with the communities in the Overseas Territories, building on their local knowledge and experience.”

The Global Ocean Wildlife Analysis Network of underwater stereo-baited cameras supports ongoing work amongst the UKOTs, many of which are part of the UK Government Blue Belt Programme, which now covers more than 4 million square kilometres of ocean.

Cefas project lead, Dr Paul Whomersley said:

“The UKOTs are taking a global lead on protecting their oceans and the wildlife and livelihoods that it supports.

“Global Ocean Wildlife Analysis Network will provide UKOTs with a world-first network of stereo-baited remote underwater video systems which will enable us all to better understand the biodiversity, functioning and connectivity of these ocean areas, while providing valuable and necessary data to inform and develop UKOTs marine management and protection strategies.”

The project has received support from UK ministers and UKOT representatives.

Timothy Austin, Deputy Director, Research and Assessment, Cayman Islands Department of Environment said:

“The Cayman Islands Department of Environment is very excited at the opportunity to participate in the Global Ocean Wildlife Analysis Network that will bring the BRUV network into the Caribbean region for the first time.

“Nearshore benthic BRUVs have been an important research tool for informing marine species and protected area management in the Cayman Islands. The opportunity to take this technology further offshore will greatly enhance the Cayman Islands’ ability to implement meaningful and effective conservation regimes for this data limited, poorly understood, but crucially important ecosystem.” 

Diane Baum, Director of Conservation and Fisheries, Ascension Island Government said:

“Ascension is committed to safeguarding its vast 445,000km2 Marine Protected Area, but we recognise how challenging this will be.  The support of the Blue Belt Programme and the opportunity to join Global Ocean Wildlife Analysis Network will help us to meet that challenge. 

“Our previous use of BRUVs has given us an insight into the amazing diversity of our open ocean ecosystems and enabled us to identify hotspots of biodiversity that need special protection.  Being part of this initiative will provide Ascension with the information we need to take good local management decisions. 

“It will also strengthen the network of UK Overseas Territories that is driving improvements in marine conservation at a global scale.  Ascension aspires to be the best MPA in the world by basing its management on sound evidence, adopting new technologies and seeking inspirational international partners; this project achieves all three.” 

Dr Simon Morley, British Antarctic Survey, representing British Antarctic Territory said:

“Science is constantly striving to find innovative solutions to monitor the marine environment and these baited cameras offer a solution to help us better understand mid-water communities close to shore along the Antarctic Peninsula. This global network, gives us an excellent opportunity to compare different oceans and understanding the impact of our changing climate.”

Over the next few months, complete sets of carbon-fibre stereo-BRUVS and associated equipment will be delivered to the UK Overseas Territories.

This initiative builds on progress to date through the Blue Belt programme to improve our understanding of the marine environment of the UKOTs, and to ensure these diverse ecosystems are protected and managed for future generations. Through the programme, the UKOTs have put in place large-scale marine protection and management measures which cover an area of over 4 million square kilometres.

ENDS

  • The UK’s Blue Belt programme aims to enhance marine protection in the Overseas Territories. Marine protection measures are in place across 4 million square kilometres of ocean around the Overseas Territories, and the programme has supported the Territories to ensure these waters are effectively managed, with environmental monitoring and enforcement ongoing. The programme delivery lead organisations, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) provide expertise and support, and facilitate access to innovative technologies to support scientific understanding and enforcement, while building capacity in the OTs. The programme has been supported by nearly £25 million to date.
  • Blue Abacus is a marine conservation organisation that equips ocean researchers and managers with the tools they need to understand the status of their marine wildlife on which ocean health, human health and blue economies depend. Their mission evolved from the founders’ commitment to rebuilding ocean resilience and in recognition of national commitments to expand the coverage of marine protected areas globally. Blue Abacus has pioneered a cost effective and easy-to-deploy carbon-fibre baited remote underwater video system (BRUVS) that captures underwater imagery of marine wildlife from coastal reefs to the open ocean. Blue Abacus provides a field-to-report solution including cutting-edge BRUVS, training in BRUVS use, image analysis of the captured video, custom scientific advice on survey design. Communications outputs based on custom scientific reports and engaging visuals from beneath the ocean’s surface are also provided. Blue Abacus is committed to providing tools and support for local decision-making as we collectively restore our oceans. Professor and Director of the Marine Futures Lab at the University of Western Australia, Jessica Meeuwig, co-founded Blue Abacus in 2020. Blue Abacus have extensive experience in the manufacture and deployment of the camera rigs, video image analysis and knowledge generation.
  • Baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS) are an effective non-lethal source of data to improve understanding of marine wildlife. Consisting of two small action cameras embedded within a base bar, a bait arm and a vertical upright, BRUVS record all animals that appear in the cameras’ overlapping field of view. The first BRUVS were deployed in the early 2000s to document the fish communities in shallow coastal waters, expanding in 2014 to open ocean monitoring. Since then Professor Meeuwig’s University of Western Australia team has completed over 70 surveys in 35 international locations, obtaining records for more than 140,000 animals.
  • Cefas (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) are the government’s marine and freshwater science experts, working for healthy and productive oceans, seas and rivers and safe and sustainable seafood. Innovative, world-class science is central to our mission. Cefas work to safeguard human and animal health, enable food security and support marine economies
  • Photo: Silky Shark at Ascension Island, courtesy of Blue Abacus
  • Additional information available in Marine Science blog:  https://marinescience.blog.gov.uk/2021/04/03/pulling-back-the-blue-curtain-in-the-uk-overseas-territories/ or by contacting [email protected]

If you would like more information about this topic, please email the Cefas Communications Team at [email protected] or visit www.cefas.co.uk.

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