4. Habitat Mapping: Port Phillip Bay 16-18 December 2007

Aim:

Completing habitat mapping for the three Port Phillip Bay Marine Sanctuaries using towed video survey operated off Pelican.

Background:

• Habitat maps provide park managers and visitors with detailed information of the main habitats and associated flora and fauna found within a park
• Victoria’s Marine National Parks system have been the focus for extensive mapping over the past five years through the Habitat Mapping program coordinated by Dr. Anthony Boxshall
• The Marine National Park Habitat Mapping program involved a partnership consortium led by Parks Victoria and included the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute Management for shallow water mapping
• This program has utilised two techniques for mapping
• Shallow water mapping for sections of park less than 10m depth
• Deep water mapping using multibeam sonar
• A Victorian schools education kit, including a DVD featuring former Environment Minister Hon. John Thwaites, on the habitat mapping program has been developed and is accessible at http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/education/marine-mapping/default.htm
• The Two Bays December 2007 survey program will complete ground truthing and survey work for the three Marine Sanctuaries in Port Philip –
• Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary at Beaumaris,
• Jawbone Marine Sanctuary at Williamstown, and
• Point Cook Marine Sanctuary

Logistics:

Towed Video System (MAFFRI)

 

Personnel :

Parks Victoria

MAFFRI

Plan:

• Surveys will be carried using towed video cameras traversing the parks at ~1knot and complement previous work undertaken
• A day is provided for the survey of each marine reserve.
• Maximum survey line length per day of ~ 8nm = 15km. Spacing of lines based on prior information wrt habitat gradients within parks.