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Structure from motion images collected during marine debris surveys at coral reef sites entangled with derelict fishing nets at Pearl and Hermes Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in 2018 and 2021

Published by Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Catalog Last Checked: August 02, 2026 at 11:24 PM | Dataset Last Updated: May 05, 2022 at 12:00 AM
The photographs described in this dataset were collected using a Structure from Motion (SfM) approach during in-water marine debris swim surveys conducted by snorkelers in search of derelict fishing nets. Surveys were conducted by the NOAA Fisheries, Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) at Pearl and Hermes Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). Initial surveys occurred from September 24 - October 3, 2018 during an ESD-led marine debris removal mission aboard the NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette, and follow-up surveys occurred from September 13-14, 2021 on a joint mission with non-profit organization Papahanaumokuakea Marine Debris Project aboard the M/V IMUA. During the 2018 mission, only a subset of marine debris surveys resulted in a SfM survey. Fishing nets were located during swim surveys and selected for SfM if the net was interacting with coral or hard substrate, the depth of the net was within ~1- 4 m of the surface, and the area of the net fit within the 9 sq. meter SFM survey plot. During a SFM survey, a permanent 3 x 3 m plot was established around the center of the fishing net, and the net was photographed using a back and forth swim pattern ("before" photos) for later processing using a SfM approach. The net was then removed and the same area was photographed again in the same way ("after" photos). A nearby (>50 m distant) paired control site was also photographed using the same method ("control" photos). During the 2021 mission, relocation of all paired sites where "after" and "control" photos were taken in 2018 was attempted; if found, the permanent 3 x 3m plot was reimaged using the same SfM approach. Only a subset of 2018 sites were successfully relocated in 2021 (12 "after" sites, 8 "control" sites), and five new nearby "control" sites had to be established to fulfill the paired study design.

Resources

7 resources available

  • SfM_MarineDebris_BeforeImages_PHR_2018

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  • SfM_MarineDebris_AfterImages_PHR_2018

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  • SfM_MarineDebris_ControlImages_PHR_2018

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  • SfM_MarineDebris_ControlImages_PHR_2021

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  • SfM_MarineDebris_ImpactImages_PHR_2021

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  • GCMD Keyword Forum Page

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  • Full Metadata Record

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