Characterization of Coastal Marina Fish Assemblages in South Florida using an Observation- Class ROV

Characterization of Coastal Marina Fish Assemblages in South Florida using an Observation- Class ROV

The Florida Intracoastal Waterway is a highly trafficked system of canals connecting major ports to the interior of the state. Urban development along these canals has created manmade fish habitats such as pilings, walls, as well as floating docks and boats. Previous to development, these areas would have been natural estuarine habitats, such as mangrove thickets and seagrass beds. Estuarine fish assemblages in urbanized habitats have not been extensively studied in South Florida. Previous studies have used underwater visual surveys using SCUBA or snorkeling. However, this can be a hazardous undertaking in marinas due to boat traffic and the frequent presence of toxic pollutants. This study used a new low-cost, mini-ROV (remotely operated vehicle) to assess fish assemblages. The OpenROV 2.8 is a user built kit that utilizes an open source operating system, allowing operation with rudimentary infrastructure. A previously developed modified timed swim survey was conducted at several marinas along the Intracoastal Waterway, including the NSU Oceanographic Center, using the OpenROV 2.8. The video data were then analyzed to determine species richness and abundance of fishes utilizing various structures in marinas. This study provides useful information on urban coastal habitat use by local economically important species and demonstrates the effective use of small observation-class ROV- technology as a survey tool.