Science Centres: Fisheries

Frames from the video images of Orange Roughy shot at depths of almost 800 m.

A sophisticated new video device to estimate the numbers of orange roughy in New Zealand waters has been tested by New Zealand and Australian scientists.

The CSIRO device was deployed for the first time from NIWA’s research vessel, Tangaroa, in July. It combines a high resolution video camera and acoustic equipment with a fishing trawl net, and simultaneously records images and acoustic echoes as the net closes in on schools of orange roughy. Acoustics have been used to assist trawl surveys in the past, but orange roughy are particularly difficult to identify by acoustics alone.

"The images we have collected are impressive, and ultimately will make for more reliable information about the numbers of orange roughy in our waters" says NIWA’s Ian Doonan. "This technology will also lead to more accurate acoustic survey estimates for a number of New Zealands important commercial species, like hoki, south blue whiting, and smooth and black oreos."