Estimating enhanced fish production on restored shellfish reefs using automated data collection from underwater videos
Data files
Feb 20, 2024 version files 269.94 KB
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Connolly_et_al_JAE_dataset_JAPPL-2023-00913_for_UPLOAD.csv
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README.md
Abstract
Shellfish reefs across the world have been heavily degraded by mechanical harvesting, disease, and declining water quality. In southern Australia, where substantial losses have occurred, Government and non-government efforts to restore functioning reefs are now underway with a strong focus on enhancing fish productivity. However, the capacity of these restored reefs to enhance fish production remains unknown, hampering estimates of return on investment.
We quantify the density differences of newly-recruited juvenile fish and other nekton on these restored reefs, relative to those on unrestored, unstructured habitat. Fish were surveyed at three paired reef-unstructured locations using 169 unbaited stereo video deployments during three periods over 12 months (2022–2023). We used automation software, FishID, to automatically identify, size, and count fish in videos. We subsequently applied known growth and mortality parameters to model enhancement of fish productivity.
Sixteen species occurred as new recruits, with all but two found at higher densities on reefs than in an unstructured habitat. Enhancement of fish production from subtidal restored shellfish reefs from a single year’s cohort is estimated to be, on average, 6,186 kg.ha-1.yr-1 (SD 1,802) after enough time has elapsed for all species to have matured. Species harvested commercially or recreationally contributed 98% of that production (6,083 kg.ha-1.yr-1, SD 1,797).
Enhancement varied greatly among locations, ranging from 12,738 kg.ha-1.yr-1 (SD 2,894), which is the highest yet recorded anywhere, to 1.4 kg.ha-1.yr-1 (SD 0.9).
The lack of juvenile fish at the location with the lowest estimated enhancement might be explained by the impact of overfishing on recruitment of key species, or by an abundance of alternative habitat for juvenile fish.
Synthesis and applications. The combination of underwater videos with automated data extraction provides a reliable, cost-effective method for surveying fish on oyster reefs. By quantifying enhanced fish productivity on reefs, we provide estimates that will underpin calculations of ecological, social, and financial benefits, supporting the business case for scaling-up restoration efforts.
README: Estimating enhanced fish production on restored shellfish reefs using automated data collection from underwater videos
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.9w0vt4bph
Experimental purpose
These data were collected to determine the difference in density of juvenile fish on restored oyster reefs relative to unrestored, unstructured control habitat at three locations in southern Australia. Stereo underwater cameras in two habitats: restored oyster reefs and unrestored, unstructured control habitat
- Three survey periods over 12 months
- Data automatically extracted using FishID software https://fishid.org/
- Fish identified, sized, and counts of juvenile fish made
- Area of camera field of view calculated, counts converted to densities per unit area
Dataset contents
- Density of juvenile fish per survey period per habitat per location for every species
Description of the data and file structure
- Species name (names as per Table 3 in associated published paper)
- Survey period (first, second, third)
- Location (Dromana, Glenelg, Margaret)
- Habitat (reef, unstructured)
- Deployment (individual deployment number)
- Fish density (per 100m2)
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Methods
- Stereo underwater cameras in two habitats: restored oyster reefs and unrestored, unstructured control habitat
- Three survey periods over 12 months
- FishID software automatically extracts data from videos to identify all fish (and cephalopods and crabs)
- Fish sizes measured from synchronised stereo imagery, only juvenile fish counted
- Area of camera field of view calculated
- Counts of juvenile fish converted to densities per unit area, for each habitat for each survey period, for each species