Investigating the use of a remote operated underwater vehicle (ROUV) for surveying abalone on reefs in the Western zone abalone fishery, Victoria.

Wild abalone off the coast of Cape Nelson, Victoria have tested positive to a disease called Abalone Virus Ganglioneuritis (AVG). AVG affects the nervous system of abalone which results in the curling of the foot and swelling of the mouth. This leads to weakness and a 90% mortality rate in infected animals. Remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROUVs) offer a robust surveillance and survey tool to assist in the assessment of the spread of the virus and to build a long term tool to undertake fisheries surveys. This project will also assess options to integrate video from ROUV technology and other sources with existing diver data.