Science Centres: Oceans

Habitat mapping highlight

The demonstration on Tangaroa included imaging this wreck of a minesweeper which sank in Wellington Harbour in 1942 after colliding with an inter-island ferry.

Ian Wright (below right), national centre leader, and Kevin Mackay, marine data manager, demonstrating seabed mapping on RV Tangaroa. The 3-hour demonstration of the shallow-water EM3000 multibeam system was a highlight of the centre’s first ever marine habitat mapping course.

Twenty-five people attended the two-day course, from diverse organisations including central government, regional councils, the seafood industry, and coastal iwi. They saw NIWA staff present the latest in mapping and interpretation of seafloor habitat and environment applied to real examples from around New Zealand including:

• sub-tidal and estuarine habitat mapping near Auckland to establish the effects of urban development;
• near-shore mapping to identify areas for aquaculture or marine reserves or sand extraction; and
• deep-sea mapping of submarine volcanoes with their unique ecosystems.

We are planning another course early next year.