Daily Log - Day 6
Last night we decided to cancel the last Eagle Ray dive and begin ROVing (Remotely Operated Vehicle diving). We based this decision on the failure of enough AUV equipment, including elements that help ensure recovery of the vehicle, and on the difficulties we have experienced with the multi-beam data (as noted in a previous log). If we cannot dive the AUV again, the trip successfully met its main objective, which was to test the Eagle Ray’s capabilities and performance offshore. More operational experience and repairs are needed before we can start supporting outside proposals.
The main reason we acquired Eagle Ray is to do high resolution habitat mapping of deep offshore areas, which are hard to map from surface vessels. Off the southeast U.S., this includes many new marine managed areas designed to protect deep corals (like the Oculina Experimental Closed Area and Habitat Area of Particular Concern). We are faced with a critical challenge — if we designate an offshore reserve, we should be prepared to assess its effectiveness. So far, we have not had enough funding to effectively monitor the Oculina protected area. Where will the resources come from to support the mapping, research and monitoring, not to mention enforcement activities?
Until 2005, with a mandate from the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and leadership from NOAA Undersea Research Center at UNCW and NOAA Fisheries, researchers received support from the Coral Reef Conservation Program. Program management decided in 2006 to eliminate any funding for deep corals. We have been told that there is a deep coral initiative submitted for 2009, two years after the Council needs to make a decision about the boundaries for the Oculina Experimental Closed Area! Like it as not, we are competing for limited federal resources and many other ocean initiatives. Still, if the management entity (SAFMC) most responsible for sustaining living resources in federal waters puts deep coral ecosystem conservation as its number one priority, shouldn’t federal agencies charged with carrying out the required science for management respond accordingly? — to my mind, a rhetorical question.
Our ROV first dives, ever, in the deep portions of the Oculina Experimental Closed Area show a shell, sand, mud substrate. Common critters include portunid crabs, moray eels various small sea basses, starfish and sea pens. Tile fish are fished commercially — we saw one near its burrow. The bottom is covered with pockmarks, burrows and tracks — it may not be a reef, but is a thriving soft bottom community under the Gulf Stream.