Underwater video assessment of Fair Isle’s coastal ecosystem

Investigations into marine ecosystems are essential to inform management of local fisheries. As part of the first fish survey around Fair Isle in July 2022, BRUV (baited remote underwater video) landers were deployed at eight sites with varying seabed conditions to record footage of the environment.

Results are presented from the analysis of BRUV footage to estimate species diversity and substrate type, including in challenging areas where other sampling methods were unfeasible. Overall, 19 mobile species were recorded with Norway pout the most common. Other notable species observed included Ballan wrasse, common skate, and two diving seabird species.

BRUV data have provided a more comprehensive assessment of Fair Isle's coastal ecosystems and further insights into the foraging behaviour of mobile species. This information allows us to fill key knowledge gaps and offers future scope for comparisons between existing data on species diversity and habitats elsewhere in Shetland and Scotland.