Abstract: A Phantom DH2+2 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) outfitted with video equipment (and other devices) was deployed from the NOAA Ship McAurthurII (AR04-04) in an attempt to document the presence of critical hard bottom benthic habitats believed to exist in the waters of the Olympic Coast national marine sanctuary (OCNMS). Video data from specific dives falling within the bounds of the HMPR-113-2004-01q survey area were reviewed to examine the benthic characteristics as a tool for validating sonar imagery.
Purpose: The ROV survey was conducted to help address management questions of the OCNMS related to benthic communities, groundtruth previous acoustic surveys, characterize the diversity, abundances, and health of living marine resources associated with hardbottom and soft bottom substrates, evaluate the fishing/harvest pressures on these critical habitats and their associated fauna in areas of high and low fishing intensity, generate GIS-compatible data on critical habitats, and provide support to sanctuary-wide interests on the west coast to address such topics as conditions of critical habitats, and fishing/harvest impacts in these areas.

Progress: Complete
Update Frequency: As needed

Theme Keywords: NOS Data Explorer Topic Category , Environmental Monitoring , ISO 19115 Topic Category , oceans , None , Sedimentology , Geology , Ocean Floor , Groundtruthing , Video Imagery , Phantom DH2+2 ROV
Place Keywords: Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary , Strait of Juan de Fuca , Washington

Access Constraints: None
Usage Constraints: These data are subjective visual observations from video imagery. Interpret with caution.