Summary PROJECT INACTIVE

The primary goal of this collaborative project, which is in its 9th year, is the characterization of the continental shelf (50-200 m water depth) and slope (200-400 m) in the Sanctuary. Video transects are being conducted at previously unexplored locations and areas of interest using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and a towed camera sled. Data on the distribution of fishes, invertebrates, and seafloor habitats are collected in real-time for inclusion on the Shelf Characterization and Image Display website (http://sep.csumb.edu/ifame/scid). Post-processing and further analysis are completed in the IfAME Image Analysis Lab.

Student Involvement

Since its inception in 2007, this project has provided a total of 61 student positions for students from CSUMB and neighboring institutions, including 50+ undergraduate positions and 26 graduate student positions, encompassing field research activities, data post-processing, and analysis. A total of nine Honors Capstone theses have been completed using project data to-date. This year the project also expanded to include high school research assistants from the Santa Catalina School in Monterey.

Broader Significance

This project is directly informing the on-going efforts to conserve and manage the marine environment within NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the largest of the 14 Sanctuaries in US waters.