Seabed habitat mapping of the continental shelf of NSW

This study involved collating and analysing existing broadscale bathymetric and marine sediment datasets, and seabed habitat data defined from previous single-beam and swath acoustic surveys and aerial photography. This was combined with around 100-square-kilometres of new swath acoustic data collected using the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage’s interferometric sidescan sonar system, allowing the development of high-resolution maps of the seabed bathymetry and habitats.

Data from about 120 kilometres of vessel-towed underwater video surveys allowed field validation of swath acoustic data and a description of the visually dominant sessile biota over large areas of the seabed.