NESP Marine and Coastal Hub (2026). Seagrass Monitoring: Using underwater video and grab on Marra Sea Country. Project 5.2 Training materials. Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Cairns, Queensland.
Overview
This film is part of a series of training materials supporting Ranger-led seagrass monitoring in northern Australia. Filmed with Traditional Owners and Rangers on Marra Sea Country in the Limmen Bight, Gulf of Carpentaria, this video shows how to carry out boat-based seagrass surveys using drop camera and grab sampling methods.
The Rangers demonstrate the full survey process:
Before the survey:
- Rigging and testing the drop camera system
- Downloading maps and navigating to survey sites
- Planning and safety procedures across two vessels
During the survey:
- Recording video data at each site
- Using the grab sampler to collect seagrass samples
- Identifying species
After the survey:
- Downloading and reviewing footage at the end of each day
- Cleaning and packing away gear at the end of the survey
- Estimating percentage cover and species composition from video footage
