Global FinPrint project- Sampling shark populations using Baited Remote Underwater Videos (BRUVs)

Kennedy Osuka1, Clay Obota2, James Mbugua1, Melita Samoilys1

1 CORDIO EAST AFRICA, 10135, 80101, Mombasa, Kenya; 2 CORDIO East Africa, 10135, 80101, Mombasa, Kenya

Corresponding author(s): Kennedy Osuka (kosuka@cordioea.net)Clay Obota (info@cordioea.net), James Mbugua (jmbugua@cordioea.net)

Received {date}; Revised {date}; Accepted {date}; Published {date}

Citation: Combination of authors, year of data paper publication (in parentheses), Title, Journal Name, Volume, Issue number (in parentheses), and doi of the data paper.

Resource Citation

Osuka K, Obota C (2020): Global FinPrint project- Sampling shark populations using Baited Remote Underwater Videos (BRUVs). v1.4. Test Organization #1. Dataset/Metadata. https://ipt.gbif.org/resource?r=bruvs_surveys&v=1.4

Abstract

This media contains approximately 216 hour’s long video footage of sharks surveys collected using BRUVS. The surveys conducted in Kenya and Tanzania in 2017 by CORDIO East Africa as part of the global FINPRINT project that seeks to provide the first global estimate of the populations of reef-associated shark and ray species. 
BRUVS equipment were deployed consecutively at three different locations along the coast of Kenya and Tanzania. Each BRUVS deployment was left to record underwater videos for one hour. A total of 105 drops were achieved in Tanzania and 120 for Kenya. 
In Tanzania, the surveys were conducted in Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park in Tanga district which borders to the south between 15th and 20th March 2017. A similar exercise was also conducted in Kenya 9 month after in Kisite Marine and Watamu Marine Park and reserve respectively where a total of 111 drops at depths between 5.0m and 40.0m recording a total of 111 hrs video footage was recorded.

Keywords: sharks, BRUVS, coral reef, rays, BRUVS

General description

Purpose: The survey seeks to assess coral reef sharks and rays, understand how they affect these vanishing ecosystems, and inform emerging conservation actions.
Additional information: From late 2017 and in to 2018, the processing of the survey footages recorded by CORDIO is still ongoing by AIMS/FINPRINT. Prior to this study, BRUVs had not been used to study fish populations in the East African region. In 2018, CORDIO is looking forward to training opportunities to enhance its technical capacity to analyze and process the videos within the region and strengthen potential linkages between the participating institutions and institutions such as South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB).

Project details

Project title: Global FinPrint project
Personnel: James Mbugua
Funding: These surveys were funded by the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences (AIMS) under the Global FinPrint project; a worldwide effort to assess coral reef sharks and rays, understand how they affect these vanishing ecosystems, and inform emerging conservation actions.
Study area descriptions/descriptor: Surveys in Tanzania were conducted at different locations along the coast of Tanga in Northern Tanzania between 15th and 20th March 2017 including sites within the Coelacanth Marine Park while in Kenya two marine park sites were selected for sampling: Kisite Marine Park and Watamu Marine Park (both no-take zones)
Design description: The survey involved deployment of BRUVs system with bait attached so as to entice fish and capture them on video for analysis. This method is non-extractive and provides an efficient and repeatable method to record fish species abundance across a range of depths, conditions and habitat types.

Data published through GBIF: https://ipt.gbif.org/resource?r=bruvs_surveys

Taxonomic coverage

General taxonomic coverage description: The survey targets coral reef sharks and rays but other important information like benthic cover composition at each drop may also be derived from the video footage.
Taxonomic ranks
Informal: Elasmobranchii
Common names: sharks

Spatial coverage

General spatial coverage: BRUVS surveys were conducted in Tanga Tanzania near the Keya/Tanzania border and also in Kilifi north of Mombasa.
Coordinates: 6°0'0''S and 3°0'0''S Latitude; 38°0'0''E and 41°0'0''E Longitude 

Temporal coverage: March 15, 2017 - March 20, 2017

Temporal coverage: November 21, 2017 - December 13, 2017

Methods

Method step description: This field allows for repeated sets of elements that document a series of methods and procedures used in the study, and the processing steps leading to the production of the data files. These include text descriptions of the procedures, relevant literature, software, instrumentation, source data and any quality control measures taken. Each method should be described in enough detail to allow other researchers to interpret and repeat, if required, the study.
Study extent description: A survey conducted in Tanga in Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park. In Kenya, surveys were conducted at two sites i.e. Kwale county at Kisite Mpunguti MPA and MNR and in Kilifi county at Kilifi MPA
Sampling description: Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations were used for fish surveys. The BRUVS use method is a standardised method with the advantages of sampling at greater depth and over greater time periods than diver surveys; efficient survey of low-density populations, particularly predator and scavenger species; sampling species that are diver-shy; and precise and accurate measurement of fish sizes. The BRUVS systems use high definition digital video cameras recording to hard drive.
Quality control description: This data is considered raw and original unless otherwise stated. Processing of the survey footages recorded by CORDIO is currently ongoing by AIMS/FINPRINT. Users are also advised to consult widely before attempting to use the data.

Metadata language: English
Date of metadata creation: 2018-03-14
Hierarchy level: Dataset