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Datasets / Australian Ocean Data Network (AODN)

Aerial surveys of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) from Musselroe Bay to Southeast Cape, Tasmania, 2019

Macroalgal canopy cover and composition

An aerial survey of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), was carried out on the east coast of Tasmania from Musselroe Bay to Southeast Cape. This survey represents part of a series of similar surveys, with historic aerial surveys having been conducted in 1986, 1999 and 2009. This survey was conducted via light aircraft in Nov-Dec 2019, and recorded areas of visible surface canopy cover of giant kelp. Canopy areas were scribed in-flight onto 1:50,000 topographic maps (TASMAP 2017), and complimentary photo and video footage was collected. Canopy areas were digitised with reference to photo, video and map data within QGIS 3.4, and boundaries were checked against Seamap Australia seafloor habitats (Lucieer et al. 2017) and bathymetric data (Smith 2016). Each bed was attributed a broad and fine scale location, density and reliability estimate (see attached report for details).

This survey was completed with funding from Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, Tassal and IMAS, and equal in-kind support by Marine Solutions and Seacare Inc.

Data and resources

Additional information

Temporal extent2019-11-30 – 2019-12-19
Date (creation)2020-05-11
Statuscompleted
Update frequencyasNeeded
Metadata languageen
LicenseThe data described in this record are the intellectual property of Marine Solutions Pty Ltd, and the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania.
Source metadataISO 19115 XML
Last updated2026-11-05
Created2026-11-05
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