A visual survey technique for deep‐water fishes: estimating anglerfish Lophius spp. abundance in closed areasa. Issue 4 (31st May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McIntyre, F. D.; Collie, N.; Stewart, M.; Scala, L.; Fernandes, P. G.
• Is Part Of: Journal of fish biology. Volume 83:Issue 4(2013)
• Page Start: 739
• Page End: 753
• Publication Date: 2013-05-31
• Subjects: Fishes -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 597
• DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12114
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1112

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>A visual survey technique was employed to estimate the abundance and distribution of anglerfish <italic>Lophius</italic> spp. in areas where destructive sampling methods, such as trawling, are unacceptable. To enable visual surveying at depths of over 300 m, a deep towed vehicle was developed equipped with video, lights and other sensors and was towed at speeds of up to 1·5 m s⁻¹ and altitudes of up to 10 m (from the seabed) to survey large areas of the seabed around the Rockall Bank in the north‐west Atlantic Ocean. The system allowed for areas up to 125 000 m² to be surveyed, a substantial area comparable to that surveyed by demersal‐trawl sampling. <italic>Lophius</italic> spp. densities ranged from 15 to 736 fish km⁻²; these are comparable to estimated <italic>Lophius</italic> spp. densities determined by trawl surveys in adjacent areas. Estimates of <italic>Lophius</italic> spp. abundance in the closed areas ranged between 99 855 and 176 887 for the time series considered (2007–2011).</p> </abstract>