Journal Article

PelagiCam: a novel underwater imaging system with computer vision for semi-automated monitoring of mobile marine fauna at offshore structures

Nancollas, Sarah J., Bridger, Danielle, Pittman, Simon J., Sheehan, Emma V.

2020

Overview

Engineered structures in the open ocean are becoming more frequent with the expansion of the marine renewable energy industry and offshore marine aquaculture. Floating engineered structures function as artificial patch reefs providing novel and relatively stable habitat structure not otherwise available in the pelagic water column. The enhanced physical structure can increase local biodiversity and benefit fisheries yet can also facilitate the spread of invasive species. Clear evidence of any ecological consequences will inform the design and placement of structures to either minimise negative impacts or enhance ecosystem restoration. The development of rapid, cost-effective and reliable remote underwater monitoring methods is crucial to supporting evidence-based decision-making by planning authorities and developers when assessing environmental risks and benefits of offshore structures. A novel, un-baited midwater video system, PelagiCam , with motion-detection software (MotionMeerkat) for semi-automated monitoring of mobile marine fauna, was developed and tested on the UK’s largest offshore rope-cultured mussel farm in Lyme Bay, southwest England. PelagiCam recorded Atlantic horse mackerel ( Trachurus trachurus ), garfish ( Belone belone ) and two species of jellyfish ( Chrysaora hysoscella and Rhizostoma pulmo ) in open water close to the floating farm structure. The software successfully distinguished video frames where fishes were present versus absent. The PelagiCam system provides a cost-effective remote monitoring tool to streamline biological data acquisition in impact assessments of offshore floating structures. With the rise of sophisticated artificial intelligence for object recognition, the integration of computer vision techniques should receive more attention in marine ecology and has great potential to revolutionise marine biological monitoring.

• Publisher: Springer International Publishing,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Animals / Aquaculture / Aquatic Organisms - physiology / Artificial intelligence / Artificial reefs / Automation / Belone belone / Biodiversity / Biological data / Biomonitoring / Blue economy / Cameras / Columnar structure / Computer vision / Computers / Cost effectiveness / Data acquisition / Decision making / Earth and Environmental Science / Ecological effects / Ecology / Ecosystem / Ecosystem restoration / Ecotoxicology / England / Environment / Environmental assessment / Environmental Management / Environmental Monitoring - instrumentation / Environmental Monitoring - methods / Environmental restoration / Environmental risk / Farm structure / Fauna / Fish / Fisheries / Fishes / Fishing / Floating structures / Impact assessment / Introduced species / Invasive species / Mackerel / Marine animals / Marine aquaculture / Marine biology / Marine Biology - instrumentation / Marine Biology - methods / Marine ecology / Marine energy / Marine engineering / Marine fauna / Marine fishes / Marine invertebrates / Monitoring / Monitoring methods / Monitoring/Environmental Analysis / Motion perception / Object recognition / Offshore structures / Organisms / Pattern recognition / Pelagic fisheries / Remote monitoring / Renewable energy / Shellfish farming / Software / Trachurus trachurus / Underwater / Video Recording - instrumentation / Water / Water circulation / Water column