Aerial drones and recreational fish finders: evaluating a low-cost method for surveying fish aggregations
B. Scoulding
A * , D. V. Fairclough B , C. Devine A , G. Jackson B , P. Lewis B , D. Waltrick B , L. West B , C. Skepper B , J. Briggs B , E. Lek B , D. E. Yeoh B , B. M. Crisafulli B , E. A. Fisher B , A. Denham B , P. J. Mitchell B and S. Gastauer C
A
B
C
Abstract
Globally, anthropogenic activities such as fishing and industrial development have affected fish abundance. Cockburn Sound, a crucial spawning site for the sparid Chrysophrys auratus near Perth, Western Australia, faces potential impacts from ongoing infrastructure development, such as ports.
To inform environmental-impact assessment, innovative non-extractive methodologies are needed to quantify C. auratus aggregation abundance.
This study evaluated an ‘aerial–acoustic survey method’ that combines data from aerial drones and recreational fish finders. We investigated the ability of both methods to identify C. auratus aggregations across known spawning sites, types of proxies of abundance obtained, the practicality of each method in ambient environmental conditions and survey costs.
By integrating drones and fish finders, surface and subsurface aggregations of C. auratus were documented over two spawning periods (September–November in 2022 and 2023), capturing important parameters related to aggregation frequency, distribution and size.
Although initial equipment investments were modest, expenses for survey planning, operations and data analysis were substantial. Nevertheless, this approach offers a cost-effective alternative to using more expensive scientific-grade equipment.
The study presents a promising methodology for assessing distribution and abundance as part of environmental impacts in infrastructure developments and managing resources, in ecologically sensitive areas such as Cockburn Sound.
Keywords: anthropogenic impacts, Chrysophrys auratus, Cockburn Sound, marine monitoring, pink snapper, predator–prey interactions, recreational, spawning.
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