Underwater Drones Reveal Rich Biodiversity in Apollo Marine Park
News | August 2024
The Apollo Marine Park is a place of huge south-westerly swells and strong tidal flows. The sea floor has many rocky reef patches interspersed with areas of sediment, and in places has rich seafloor fauna dominated by slow growing sponge gardens. Recently, Deakin University's Marine Mapping Group have used underwater drones and baited cameras to reveal the incredible biodiversity of this Commonwealth Marine Park.
The underwater footage also captured species of significant conservation concern such as the Melbourne Skate, Mako shark, Broadnose Sevengill shark all listed as Vulnerable by IUCN, as well as the critically endangered school shark (Galeorhinus galeus).
““Like coral reefs found in warmer waters, the sponge gardens of Australia’s cooler waters provide essential habitat and foraging grounds for marine species. ”
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