SwathCam is essentially a nine-metre metal frame fitted with five downward-facing video cameras – and one forward facing one - and an array of extremely strong lights to provide crystal clear visibility in the dark depths of the ocean.
It is able to distinguish between species compared to other technology such as echosounders, which bounce sound waves off different animals. Suspended from NIWA’s research vessel Kaharoa II, SwathCam is towed through the water about two to three metres off the seabed, sending high-resolution live video back on board for viewing in real time.
The system was the idea of NIWA marine ecologist Dr Mark Morrison and was built by NIWA’s Marine Technology Group led by Will Quinn.
SwathCam has a variety of applications. It can be used for estimating fish species abundances and sizes, but also in understanding what seafloor habitats are present, and how fish interact with them. For counting fish, it has 24/7 operability.
