Workshop on Advanced Benthic Surveying Tools for Marine Science

Advanced Benthic Surveying Tools for Marine Science Workshop

Montréal, Canada, August 18 – 20, 2023

In April 2023, 39 Canadian marine scientists from government, academia, and the not-for-profit sector, met in Montréal to advance plans for benthic science mission, ship access, funding, and equipment availability. The CSSF was a cosponsor of this event.

The primary focus was on advanced survey tools such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) required to better understand marine ecosystem health, benthic biodiversity, and geological processes. During the various discussion’s sessions, participants highlighted the need for more collaborative approach and for more partnerships that can ensure consistent, efficient, and reproductible workflows and methodology among research groups.

After the Workshop, a poster was created to share at an Oceans Research in Canada Alliance (ORCA) meeting in early June the objectives of the activity, the pre-event survey, the details of the 2-day event, the main outcomes, and next steps.

Photo Credit: Janet Ferguson-Roberts, Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility. Poster: Bárbara de Moura Neves et al.

New Zealand - South Pacific Expedition Summary

NSF/GNS Expedition Summary

RV Tangaroa, March 6 – 26, 2021

In February 2021, 9 members of the CSSF team travelled from Victoria, Halifax and St. Johns to Wellington, New Zealand, to participate in an NSF/GNS funded expedition on board the NIWA research vessel Tangaroa. To meet New Zealand’s COVID requirements for entry into the country the team was quarantined for 14 days in a hotel in Wellington in advance of proceeding to the ship.

Read more: New Zealand - South Pacific Expedition Summary

KIOST Expedition Summary - RV ISABU

KIOST Expedition Summary

RV Isabu, October 11 – November 29, 2021

The CSSF team implemented a staggered travel plan to Korea to ensure expertise was available for the integration of ROPOS on the RV Isabu at appropriate times. The bulk of the team arrived in later September and coalesced in Busan, a large port city at the Southern extent of the Peninsula.

Read more: KIOST Expedition Summary - RV ISABU