Multiparametric benthic landers for monitoring fishing-impacted deep-sea ecosystems

Abstract

To assess conservation efforts and follow the effects of anthropogenic pressures, it is crucial to monitor the ecological status of benthic habitats. Monitoring requires measurements that are made on-site, reproduced over a vast region, and capable of capturing their spatial evolution over time. This calls for the expensively efficient development of tools and protocols that deliver reliable, high-quality data. This article introduces the PLOME multiparametric benthic landers, a new tool and protocol for non-extractively assessing the status of fishes and benthic habitats. By combining independent and wirelessly connected benthic stations, AUVs, and USVs, PLOME creates a spatially adjustable, non-invasive, modular platform. Lander stations will be able to continuously deliver high-rate data while AUVs can provide comprehensive spatial measurements