Optimising marine image capture and analysis from autonomous underwater vehicles (MICA)

salmon farming, in Scotland, currently encompasses >230 sites, from Loch Fyne in the south to Shetland in the North. The industry seeks to expand, doubling economic value by 2030.

The detritus from salmon farms (organic matter) is dispersed around the fish-cages to an extent that is determined by the receiving environment (depth, local current regime etc) and this material variously impacts the seabed. The Scottish regulator (SEPA) and their advisors (MICA-partners, NatureScot) are required to ensure sustainability of the sector and that the receiving environment is not adversely affected beyond local scales.

Of particular concern are priority marine features (PMFs) which are individual taxa/biotopes considered to be highly sensitive, rare and/or which provide critical ecosystem functions. Examples of PMFs range between individuals of the coral Swiftia sp to sensitive biogenic reefs such as mussel-beds and maerl. The sector (industry and regulators) needs non-destructive, scale-appropriate methods for identifying and mapping PMFs.

The student will initially focus on developing innovative, machine-assisted approaches to mapping the locations of blue- and horse-mussel reefs, both of which are local to SAMS (https://marinescotland.atkinsgeospatial.com/nmpi/) (e.g., Lochs Levan and Creran). Our surveys will extend to maerl as surveying resources/partner input allows.