Fish and Invertebrate Surveys, Geological Habitat Characterization, and Shipwreck Reconnaissance: Delta Submersible Cruise

Fish and Invertebrate Surveys, Geological Habitat Characterization, and Shipwreck Reconnaissance: Delta Submersible Cruise (September 2003) Jean de Marignac, Erica J. Burton, Robert Schwemmer, Richard M. Starr, Joseph J. Bizzarro, Mary M. Yoklavich, Mark R. Ammend, John W. Foster, Jack Hunter, Thomas E. Laidig, Robert M. Lea, David M. Lott, Lee Y. Murai, Mike Ricketts, Amy Palmer, Sanctuary Staff

2003 Field Research Report

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary led a research cruise aboard the R/V Velero IV, using the 2-person submersible Delta, 16-25 September 2003. Four research projects with overlapping goals were conducted in collaboration with 6 principal investigators, 9 participating institutions, and 15 participants. Thirty dives were conducted at 5 survey locations in depths of 60-350 meters. Projects included fish and invertebrate assemblage surveys at Soquel Canyon, Partington Canyon, and the Monterey Peninsula/Point Sur Area; ground-truthing of geological habitat, recorded earlier using side scan sonar, at Partington Canyon; and reconnaissance of the oil tanker Montebello attacked during World War II near Cambria, CA. Video data have yet to be analyzed. Biological and geological data will be used to determine habitat associations, and long-term changes in species and size composition. Preliminary results of the Montebello survey indicate that the ship’s hull is intact.