Benchmark ecological survey of the Al Qalqali MPA

This project will deploy cutting-edge stereo baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVs) to map marine biodiversity within the newly established Al Qalqali Marine Protected Area (MPA). BRUVs provide a powerful, non-invasive method for surveying marine life, capturing high-resolution video of fish and megafauna communities, including sharks, rays, and turtles, and delivering an ecosystem-scale assessment of biodiversity. Using this technology, the project will quantify species diversity, relative abundance, biomass, and size structure across habitats and depth gradients, identifying key areas and habitats of ecological importance within the MPA. The stereo-video system also enables precise length measurements, allowing robust biomass estimates and strengthening ecological indicators beyond simple presence–absence or relative abundance metrics.

Beyond documenting the species present, this survey will establish the first ecological baseline for the Al Qalqali MPA. This benchmark will provide a critical reference point for future monitoring, enabling SMSRC researchers to track how marine communities change through time and assess the effectiveness of protection. In particular, detecting shifts in community structure and monitoring the presence and abundance of rare or conservation-concern species will be essential for evaluating the ecological impact of the MPA. The results will directly inform the development of a long-term marine monitoring programme for the site, supporting evidence-based management and helping to measure the ecological benefits of protection over time.