""In-House Workshop on Benthic Habitat Mapping onboard M.V. SEAFDEC 2" 17-19 September 2012

Objectives: System testing preparing benthic habitat mapping including: Underwater VDO camera; ROV; Side Scanning Sonar; Echo Sounder and; Bottom trawl

Map of working area (pink square)

Activities summary

Lecture: Two topics related to basic knowledge echo‐sounder including bottom topography survey and mapping the sea floor basic knowledge were lectured by Asst.Prof. Pachoenchoke Jintasaeranee (Ph.D.) from Department of Aquatic Science, Faculty of Science, Burapha University. He also shared his experience on sea floor mapping project in collaboration with German University in Andaman Sea. His lecture notes were attached in Annex I and II.

Performance testing result:

1. Underwater VDO camera (SEA Viewer underwater VDO camera)
The sledge attached with Underwater VDO camera were operated five cast to depth about 20 meter near Ko Phai island to test the most suitable angle of VDO camera and light to capture bottom seafloor. It was found that the survey area is high turbidity; the light source from the SEA Viewer is too low to focus sea floor.

2. Remotely Operated underwater Vehicle (ROV)
The ROV system is working well when testing on desk. With unknown reason it malfunctions when lowering to depth about 20 meters after 5 minutes testing period. Both underwater and on desk unit were check by Port engineer. There were no part of the ROV is leak. He suggested to send main board of underwater unit to repair.

3.

5. High opening trawl
Refer to MV.SEAFDEC 2 survey in Vietnam cruise no. 39‐1‐2012 that more than 50% of survey area are in the water deeper than 100 meter depth. The bottom trawl of M.V.SEAFDEC 2 opening mouth is too small for sampling mid water fishery resource. In order to solve the problem, SEAFDEC/TD construct new High opening trawl which more appropriate for the mid water fishery resource survey.

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