The Tasmanian Shelf survey was conducted on the Challenger in collaboration with the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute between the 13-16th June, 2008 and 23rd February to the 14th March, 2009 (GA survey #0315). The survey was operated as part of the Surrogates Program of the CERF Marine Biodiversity Hub. The objective was to collect co-located physical and biological data to enable the robust testing of a range of physical parameters as surrogates of benthic biodiversity patterns. A total of 55 video transects were surveyed from five study areas (Tasman Peninsula, Freycinet Peninsula, The Friars, Huon river, and Port Arthur channel) in water depths ranging from 15-110 m. Video was recorded to mini DV tapes, and copied to digital format. For further information on this survey please refer to the post-survey report (GA Record 2009/043 - Geocat #69755).

Geoscience Australia carried out marine surveys in southeast Tasmania in 2008 and 2009 (GA0315) to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through observation of habitats using underwater towed video. Data was acquired using the Tasmania Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI) Research Vessel Challenger. Bathymetric mapping was undertaken in seven survey areas, including: Freycinet Pensinula (83 sq km, east coast and shelf); Tasman Peninsula (117 sq km, east coast and shelf); Port Arthur and adjacent open coast (17 sq km); The Friars (41 sq km, south of Bruny Island); lower Huon River estuary (39 sq km); D Entrecastreaux Channel (7 sq km, at Tinderbox north of Bruny Island), and; Maria Island (3 sq km, western side). Video characterisations of the seabed concentrated on areas of bedrock reef and adjacent seabed in all mapped areas, except for D Entrecastreaux Channel and Maria Island. The "challenger" folder contains processed multibeam backscatter data of the South East Tasmania Shelf. The SIMRAD EM3002 multibeam backscatter data were processed using the CMST_GA MB Process, a multibeam processing toolbox codeveloped by Geoscience Australia and Curtin University of Technology This dataset is a contribution to the CERF Marine Biodiversity Hub.

Geoscience Australia carried out marine surveys in southeast Tasmania in 2008 and 2009 (GA0315) to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through observation of habitats using underwater towed video. Data was acquired using the Tasmania Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI) Research Vessel Challenger. Bathymetric mapping was undertaken in seven survey areas, including: Freycinet Pensinula (83 sq km, east coast and shelf); Tasman Peninsula (117 sq km, east coast and shelf); Port Arthur and adjacent open coast (17 sq km); The Friars (41 sq km, south of Bruny Island); lower Huon River estuary (39 sq km); D Entrecastreaux Channel (7 sq km, at Tinderbox north of Bruny Island), and; Maria Island (3 sq km, western side). Video characterisations of the seabed concentrated on areas of bedrock reef and adjacent seabed in all mapped areas, except for D Entrecastreaux Channel and Maria Island. The "challenger" folder contains raw multibeam backscatter data from two surveys archived seperately in 0306_tasman1 and 0315_se_tasmania. The raw multibeam backscatter data were collected along survey lines using GAs Kongsberg SIMRAD EM3002 in single head configuration from aboard MV Challenger This dataset is a contribution to the CERF Marine Biodiversity Hub.

Towed Video transects + Digital StillsStereo BRUVSMultibeamSmith And McIntyre sediment grabsPanda Cam (drop cam)CTD A seabed biodiversity survey was conducted north of Darwin during an 18 day voyage, 13 September -1 October 2015, on the RV Solander. Areas identified for assessment included two mid-shelf regions and three submerged shoals. Multibeam and towed video were used at all locations to map the seabed and classify seabed habitats. At the shoals additional sampling of biodiversity, specifically the fish communities, was undertaken using sBRUVS.The mid-shelf locations were separate areas along a potential cross-shelf pipeline route from the Barossa field to Darwin. The southernmost of these was to the west of Cape Helvetius, at the southwest corner of Bathurst Island. The second area was midway to the shelf break, adjacent to and off the western side of Goodrich Bank. Evans and Tassie Shoals, lying further northwest on the outer shelf, were selected for investigation as larger submerged shoals, closest to the Barossa field. An initial towed video inspection was also undertaken at the much smaller Blackwood Shoal, lying a few kilometres to the west of Evans Shoal. In total the survey sampled in five principle locations, consisting of Evans, Tassie and Blackwood Shoals, open shelf adjacent to Goodrich Bank and open shelf adjacent to Cape Helvetius.

The Carnarvon Shelf Survey (SOL4769, GA survey #0308) was conducted on the R.V. Solander in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Marine Science between 12 August and 15 September 2008. The survey was operated as part of the Surrogates Program of the CERF Marine Biodiversity Hub. The survey was completed under a Memorandum of Understanding between GA and the AIMS and represents the first of three surveys planned under this agreement. The objective was to collect high-quality, accurately co-located data to enable the robust testing of a range of physical parameters as surrogates of patterns of benthic biodiversity. Underwater video footage and still images were collected from 122 stations from water depths of 13-125 m, although video quality varies among transects and some still images were not of suitable quality for analysis. Images from the still camera can be found in 'Image Library', and images from towed video screen captures can be found in 'Tow Video Stills'. Image files from screen captures are named according to area (1 = Mandu, 2 = Point Cloates, 3 = Gnarloo) followed by the station number and video identifier (TVA1). For example, 2_032TVA1 would represent a towed video transect from Station 32 at Point Cloates. See GA Record 2009/02 (Geocat #68525) for further details. Video footage was recorded to mini DV tapes, and copied to digital format. The original mini DV tapes are archived at AIMS-WA.

The SeaMap Tasmania project undertook mapping of seafloor habitats across the nearshore Tasmanian coastline (0-40 m) - the first state to compile a statewide asssimilated benthic habitat dataset. This initiative comprised of collating aerial photography (from archives), acoustic mapping, and conducting underwater video surveys and field-based visual observations. From this, 1:25,0000 scale habitat maps were created for shallow coastal water to within 1.5 km of the coastline (or 40 m depth, which ever was arrived at first). This record provided access to the raw video and associated annotations from video transects, which were subsequently used as validation (ground-truthing) for habitat mapping. A submersible digital video camera was deployed at selected locations around the Tasmanian coastline. These samples were used to verify the aerial photography and echo sounder substrate classification and obtain more detailed information on biological assemblages. Transects were undertaken from the LWM (Low water mark) to 80 metres in depth or 1.5 kms from shore. Positional information was recorded for each video drop as a series of DGPS coordinates and also as a direct overlay of the DGPS output (position, date and time) onto the video.

The SeaMap Tasmania project undertook mapping of seafloor habitats across the nearshore Tasmanian coastline (0-40 m) - the first state to compile a statewide asssimilated benthic habitat dataset. This initiative comprised of collating aerial photography (from archives), acoustic mapping, and conducting underwater video surveys and field-based visual observations. From this, 1:25,0000 scale habitat maps were created for shallow coastal water to within 1.5 km of the coastline (or 40 m depth, which ever was arrived at first). This record provided access to the raw video and associated annotations from video transects, which were subsequently used as validation (ground-truthing) for habitat mapping. A submersible digital video camera was deployed at selected locations around the Tasmanian coastline. These samples were used to verify the aerial photography and echo sounder substrate classification and obtain more detailed information on biological assemblages. Transects were undertaken from the LWM (Low water mark) to 80 metres in depth or 1.5 kms from shore. Positional information was recorded for each video drop as a series of DGPS coordinates and also as a direct overlay of the DGPS output (position, date and time) onto the video.

Geoscience Australia carried out marine surveys in southeast Tasmania in 2008 and 2009 (GA0315) to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through observation of habitats using underwater towed video. Data was acquired using the Tasmania Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI) Research Vessel Challenger. Bathymetric mapping was undertaken in seven survey areas, including: Freycinet Pensinula (83 sq km, east coast and shelf); Tasman Peninsula (117 sq km, east coast and shelf); Port Arthur and adjacent open coast (17 sq km); The Friars (41 sq km, south of Bruny Island); lower Huon River estuary (39 sq km); D Entrecastreaux Channel (7 sq km, at Tinderbox north of Bruny Island), and; Maria Island (3 sq km, western side). Video characterisations of the seabed concentrated on areas of bedrock reef and adjacent seabed in all mapped areas, except for D Entrecastreaux Channel and Maria Island. freycinet_4m is an ArcGIS layer of the backscatter grid of the Freycinet Peninsula survey arae produced from the processed EM3002 backscatter data of the survey area using the CMST-GA MB Process This dataset is a contribution to the CERF Marine Biodiversity Hub.

Geoscience Australia carried out marine surveys in southeast Tasmania in 2008 and 2009 (GA0315) to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through observation of habitats using underwater towed video. Data was acquired using the Tasmania Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI) Research Vessel Challenger. Bathymetric mapping was undertaken in seven survey areas, including: Freycinet Pensinula (83 sq km, east coast and shelf); Tasman Peninsula (117 sq km, east coast and shelf); Port Arthur and adjacent open coast (17 sq km); The Friars (41 sq km, south of Bruny Island); lower Huon River estuary (39 sq km); D Entrecastreaux Channel (7 sq km, at Tinderbox north of Bruny Island), and; Maria Island (3 sq km, western side). Video characterisations of the seabed concentrated on areas of bedrock reef and adjacent seabed in all mapped areas, except for D Entrecastreaux Channel and Maria Island. parthur_1m is an ArcGIS layer of the backscatter grid of the Port Arthur survey area produced from the processed EM3002 backscatter data of the survey area using the CMST-GA MB Process This dataset is a contribution to the CERF Marine Biodiversity Hub.

This dataset is a composition of various datasets to form a map at the 1:100000 scale of the seagrass and underwater habitats from Shark Bay to NSW border going south and including Tasmania. Data extends up to 50Km offshore. The dataset was compiled largely by Dr Hugh Kirkman and subsequently updated by Dr. Ian Hahmdorf, (Bureau of Rural Sciences) and became part of CAMRIS as the CAMRIS Seagrass Dataset. Additional details (including a link to download the data as shapefile) are accessible via the www.environment.gov.au website (see links section).