TY - JOUR
T1 - Monitoring marine fishes using underwater video techniques in the Mediterranean Sea
AU - Nalmpanti, Melina
AU - Chrysafi, Anna
AU - Meeuwig, Jessica J.
AU - Tsikliras, Athanassios C.
N1 - Funding Information:
Open access funding provided by HEAL-Link Greece. This research was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation. Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, 101000302, Athanassios C. Tsikliras
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - The use of underwater video techniques has expanded rapidly in ecological studies and is particularly desirable in protected areas since the method does not impact the habitat or remove fish. The Mediterranean Sea is a biodiversity hotspot under high anthropogenic pressure and consequently, non-destructive and non-extractive techniques for fish monitoring are advantageous. Here, we review 110 publications that used underwater video in fish-related studies in the Mediterranean basin. The most common technique used in the Mediterranean Sea was Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) (33%), followed by Remote Underwater Video (RUV) systems (20%), Diver Operated Video (DOV) systems (20%) and Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) systems (19%). Approximately one third of the studies used an additional sampling method, such as fisheries-based or molecular methods with the aim to compare the surveying effectiveness or produce complementary data. The most frequent objectives of the reviewed studies were related to fish community structure, i.e., focusing on community wide metrics such as abundance and biodiversity, or behavioral analyses, while the most commonly studied environments were those of the western Mediterranean and shallow waters, usually involving sandy or rocky reef habitats. Sampling protocols differed widely among studies with transect lengths, soak times and baits all varying. Future research should focus on the least studied parts of the region, such as the eastern and southern Mediterranean Sea and deep-sea habitats. Finally, the development of standardized sampling protocols is recommended to ensure that data are comparable among studies.
AB - The use of underwater video techniques has expanded rapidly in ecological studies and is particularly desirable in protected areas since the method does not impact the habitat or remove fish. The Mediterranean Sea is a biodiversity hotspot under high anthropogenic pressure and consequently, non-destructive and non-extractive techniques for fish monitoring are advantageous. Here, we review 110 publications that used underwater video in fish-related studies in the Mediterranean basin. The most common technique used in the Mediterranean Sea was Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) (33%), followed by Remote Underwater Video (RUV) systems (20%), Diver Operated Video (DOV) systems (20%) and Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) systems (19%). Approximately one third of the studies used an additional sampling method, such as fisheries-based or molecular methods with the aim to compare the surveying effectiveness or produce complementary data. The most frequent objectives of the reviewed studies were related to fish community structure, i.e., focusing on community wide metrics such as abundance and biodiversity, or behavioral analyses, while the most commonly studied environments were those of the western Mediterranean and shallow waters, usually involving sandy or rocky reef habitats. Sampling protocols differed widely among studies with transect lengths, soak times and baits all varying. Future research should focus on the least studied parts of the region, such as the eastern and southern Mediterranean Sea and deep-sea habitats. Finally, the development of standardized sampling protocols is recommended to ensure that data are comparable among studies.
KW - BRUV
KW - Non-destructive methods
KW - Review
KW - ROV
KW - RUV
KW - Sampling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85169588822&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11160-023-09799-y
DO - 10.1007/s11160-023-09799-y
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85169588822
SN - 0960-3166
VL - 33
SP - 1291
EP - 1310
JO - Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries
JF - Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries
IS - 4
ER -