ROV assessment of mesophotic fish and associated habitats across the continental shelf of the Amathole region

Understanding how fish associate with habitats across marine landscapes is crucial to developing effective marine spatial planning (MSP) in an expanding and diversifying ocean economy. Globally, anthropogenic pressures impact the barely understood temperate mesophotic ecosystems and South Africa’s r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Scientific reports Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 18171
Main Authors:	Button, Rio E., Parker, Denham, Coetzee, Vivienne, Samaai, Toufiek, Palmer, Ryan M., Sink, Kerry, Kerwath, Sven E.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	London Nature Publishing Group UK 13-09-2021 Nature Publishing Group Nature Portfolio
Subjects:	631/158 631/158/670 631/158/672 631/158/853 631/601/2722 704/829/826 Anthropogenic factors Biodiversity Coasts Commercial fishing Continental shelves Corals Deep water Ecosystems Endangered species Fish Fisheries Habitats Humanities and Social Sciences Marine ecosystems Marine protected areas multidisciplinary Polls & surveys Protected areas Rare species Sampling Science Science (multidisciplinary) Species richness Taxonomy
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Summary:	Understanding how fish associate with habitats across marine landscapes is crucial to developing effective marine spatial planning (MSP) in an expanding and diversifying ocean economy. Globally, anthropogenic pressures impact the barely understood temperate mesophotic ecosystems and South Africa’s remote Amathole shelf is no exception. The Kei and East London region encompass three coastal marine protected areas (MPAs), two of which were recently extended to the shelf-edge. The strong Agulhas current (exceeding 3 m/s), which runs along the narrow shelf exacerbates sampling challenges. For the first time, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveyed fish and their associated habitats across the shelf. Results indicated fish assemblages differed between the two principle sampling areas, and across the shelf. The number of distinct fish assemblages was higher inshore and on the shelf-edge, relative to the mid-shelf. However, the mid-shelf had the highest species richness. Unique visuals of rare Rhinobatos ocellatus (Speckled guitarfish) and shoaling Polyprion americanus (wreckfish) were collected. Visual evidence of rhodolith beds, deep-water lace corals and critically endangered endemic seabreams were ecologically important observations. The ROV enabled in situ sampling without damaging sensitive habitats or extracting fish. This study provided information that supported the Amathole MPA expansions, which extended protection from the coast to beyond the shelf-edge and will guide their management. The data gathered provides baseline information for future benthopelagic fish and habitat monitoring in these new MPAs.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	2045-2322 2045-2322
DOI:	10.1038/s41598-021-97369-2