ACEP recently partnered with Subtech Diving and Marine, a local company to test the use of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) in t he study of the deep subtidal and canyon habitats and their fauna, including coelacanths. Subtech Director Mr Neil Scott Williams and ACEP Marine ecologist Dr Kerry Sink have been planning the trial for over two years. A ROV was hired from Marine Solutions in Cape Town and pilot Phillip Els and ROV technician Juma Suddy joined the team in Sodwana. The ROV is deployed from the support vessel Subtech Surveyor II and the pilot guides the vehicle from the surface, making use of video cameras to decide on the direction of travel. Mr Peter Timm, one of the discoverers of the Sodwana coelacanths has been assisting with navigation in the canyons.

After shallow water system tests, the ROV was used to penetrate a cave in Jesser Canyon and a coelacanth was documented on the first day. In addition a further 8 coelacanths were found between 104 and 112m on 6 May. This is the first time an ROV has been used to capture footage of coelacanths as previous attempts in the Comoran Islands and in Indonesia were unsuccessful. Despite concerns that strong currents and sea conditions would hamper operations, the system proved successful. The reaction of the fishes to the ROV was assessed. The coelacanths appeared relaxed and none of the individuals moved away. Some of the coelacanths have been previously sighted but preliminary results suggest that some are new animals that will increase the known numbers of these prehistoric fish in the park.

The ROV is a Seaeye Falcon (100x76x58 cm). It has a colour and low light black and white camera and is rated to 300 m. The all-African team are extremely pleased with the performance of the ROV to date. It has been able to enter smaller spaces than a submarine and has proved effective in habitat surveys, mapping, cave inspection, documentation of individual coelacanths (their spot patterns are unique) and in biodiversity surveys. During the trial the first footage of other deepwater habitats was captured including deep ledges and rock outcrops and subaqueous dunefields. A new areas were also surveyed in Diepgat and Island Rock canyons.

The short trial has shown that ROVs are highly effective in the study of coelacanths and their associated habitats, advancing the scientific achievements of the ACEP programmes. The ROV enables the rapid survey of large areas, and especially through allowing a team of local scientists to direct operations during the research dives. The Discovers, managers, educators and members of the local community were able to participate in the exploratory dives, and recorded images are immediately available. The presence of coelacanths and the resulting research developments is an asset to South Africa’s only marine world heritage site. The results of the ROV trial have opened up new doors for offshore marine science in South Africa, allowing visual investigation exploration of largely unexplored deep-water habitats. The team includes Dr Jean Harris from Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife who has commented on the potential of the ROV for identifying priority areas for conservation. Less than 1% of South Africa’s Exclusive Economic Zone falls in marine protected areas and identification and proclamation of offshore marine parks is an important conservation priority.

TEAM

Dr Kerry Sink, ACEP Co-ordinator Marine Ecology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity

Mr Neil Scott Williams, Director Subtech

Mr Phillip Els, ROV Pilot, Marine Solutions

Mr Juma Suddy, ROV Technician, Marine Solutions

Mr Peter Timm, Triton Dive Charters

Dr Jean Harris, Ezemvelo KwaZulu Natal Wildlife

Ms Lucy Scott, ACEP Co-ordinator GIS, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity

Dr Toufiek Samaai, CSIR

Mr Jonathan Blanchard, Captain Subtech Surveyor II

Mr Steven Fry, Engineer Subtech Surveyor II