NESP D3 Hunter Marine Park Bathymetry 2019 (20190061S)

Gridded multi-beam echousounder (MBES) bathymetry data for Hunter Marine Park acquired using NSW Department of Planning Industry and Environment MBES system aboard RV Bombora for the National Environmental Science Program (NESP Biodiversity Hub). Fieldwork was funded, both cash and in-kind, by NSW DPIE and NESP in Year 1 (2015) and 4 (2018) of the D3 Project. Initial surveys (2015) were exploratory as long-lines across the inner Special Purpose Zone (trawl) over the continental shelf with later surveys (2018) focused on 100% coverage over areas previously identified as containing the Key Ecological Feature ‘Continental Shelf Reef’. Reports by Davies et al (2016) 'Mapping Shelf Rocky Reef Habitats in the Hunter Commonwealth Marine Reserve', National Environmental Science Program Biodiversity Hub D3 Project –Evaluating and monitoring the status of marine biodiversity assets on the continental shelf; and Williams et al (2020) 'Mapping and characterising reef habitat and fish assemblages of the Hunter Marine Park', Project D3- Preparing for and implementing monitoring of CMR’s and the status of marine biodiversity assets on the continental shelf, Milestone Report December 2020; detail these MBES surveys as well as towed underwater video and BRUVs, to characterise seabed habitats, fish and sessile invertebrate assemblages of the Hunter Marine Park. Reports are available at https://www.nespmarine.edu.au/publications. Survey sites for focused mapping in 2018-19 were 1) 3-6 NM east and south-east of Seal Rocks - Sugarloaf Point, 2) Outer Gibber - a feature in 20-60m of water north-east of Broughton Islands and ~3-4 NM from shore and 3) 3-7 NM east to north-east of Broughton Island.

Not to be used for navigational purposes