MPA Monitoring via Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)

About

California’s MPAs encompass a range of habitats and depths, with over 65 percent of MPA water depths exceeding 60 feet. Deep ocean habitats contain a high diversity of species that are important commercially and recreationally. While these areas have been fished for decades, a lot less is known about these habitats and their associated communities compared to their shallower counterparts. Most scuba diving research occurs shallower than 100 feet, which limits direct human observation to a narrow band of habitats near shore. Scuba research is also constricted by safety factors including the time allotted underwater and presence of dangerous conditions. The emergence and use of underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technology offers a safe and innovative option for exploring California’s MPAs and the deeper ocean in general.

CDFW's ROV History

In 1997, CDFW began using ROVs to conduct deep water research in and along California’s coast, with the first explorations taking place in the former Punta Gorda Ecological Reserve (near Sea Lion Gulch State Marine Reserve). ROV research was originally part of CDFW’s Fishery Independent Research and Cooperative Research and Assessment of Nearshore Ecosystems groups, gathering valuable information used to evaluate and manage the status of ecosystems, and species of interest like abalone and sea urchin.

ROV research has evolved to include marine protected area monitoring. Studies inside the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary began in 2003, and ROV survey methods continued to be developed and refined in tandem. ROV flights were used to produce detailed sonar maps, a key component because the maps along with the ROVs spatial and tracking abilities allowed researchers to return to the same site to monitor changes over time.

CDFW has worked with an extensive list of partners to finance and support the ROV survey efforts. Most recently, CDFW has worked with Marine Applied Research Exploration (MARE), a non-profit created in 2003 focused on the development of innovative deepwater technology. CDFW and MARE have cooperatively conducted studies for decades.

CDFW's ROV Surveys

ROV surveys were conducted as a part of the California Statewide MPA Monitoring Program. Study sites were chosen within rocky habitat areas identified from seafloor mapping data. These sites typically ranged between 180 and 300 feet deep, and transects were 1,500 feet wide by 3,000-6,000 feet long depending on the slope and depth range of the particular area. Along with collecting baseline characterization information, sites were also selected for their suitability as long-term monitoring index sites that could be revisited over time to measure ecological changes. Data gathered from ROV surveys will be complimentary to other MPA research (such as scuba surveys), helping to paint a broader picture of the changing status of California's MPAs. In addition, thousands of images have been captured during the past five statewide research cruises. Each image has been cataloged with details about the habitat, species, presence, depth, location, and other parameters. These photos offer an invaluable resource for future studies that analyze the ongoing changes within our coastal waters.

Reports

• Remotely Operated Vehicle Deepwater Benthic Fish and Habitat Statewide Sampling 2016 (PDF)