A comparison of stereo-BRUVs and stereo-ROV techniques for sampling shallow water fish communities on and off pipelines

Abstract

We compared and contrasted fish assemblage data sampled by baited remote underwater stereo-video systems (stereo-BRUVs) and stereo-video remotely operated vehicles (stereo-ROVs) from subsea pipelines, reef and soft sediment habitats. Stereo-BRUVs sampled greater fish diversity across all three habitats, with the stereo-ROV sampling ~46% of the same species on pipeline and reef habitats. Larger differences existed in soft sediment habitats, with stereo-BRUVs recording ~65% more species than the stereo-ROV, the majority of which were generalist carnivores. These differences were likely due to the bait used with stereo-BRUVs attracting fish from a large and unknown area. Fish may have also avoided the moving stereo-ROV, an effect possibly magnified in open soft sediment habitats. As a result of these biases, we recommend stereo-ROVs for assessing fish communities on pipelines due to their ability to capture fish in-situ and within a defined sampling area, but caution is needed over soft sediment habitats for ecological comparisons.