Automated 3D Reef Photo Tracking (ECOSEAS/AMPN)

Monitoring the fauna of fish installed in and around 3D artificial reefs represents one of the challenges of monitoring these structures. In addition to conventional scuba diving counting techniques, an automated photographic tracking technique is being developed. For this, cameras are placed near the reefs and left at the bottom of the water for 7 to 8 hours, taking a photo every 30 seconds.

A first monitoring was carried out during the summer of 2018. Nearly 2,400 photos were taken during the first test phase. For each of them, the fish will be identified and counted in order to estimate the abundance of the fish population on the reefs. The second monitoring will take place in summer 2019.

This will make it possible to monitor fish populations in a complementary way in addition to underwater visual censuses and could represent an interesting technique for proposing a monitoring standard applicable in other artificial reef areas.

Program supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.