EALING: It’s a question University of Tasmania researchers believe they can answer after a five-day research voyage south of Maatsuyker Island aboard the Australian Maritime College vessel Bluefin.
A team of scientists and support staff, led by Institute of Marine and Antarctic Science’s Neville Barret, deployed an autonomous underwater vehicle to compare marine life and sea floor habitat in the Tasman Fracture Commonwealth Marine Reserve with fished areas in southeast Tasmanian waters.
The $300,000 assessment included an initial phase of habitat mapping on the continental shelf section of the 42,501 sq km reserve.
A second phase concentrated on examining the extent to which rock lobsters had been protected by the reserve. A third phase has been to study the habitat that supports rock lobsters and associated fish communities and the ecosystem health.
Dr Barrett said the research results would be used to inform management of changes during seven years of protection and to improve researchers’ understanding of the area as a baseline for future studies.
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