R/V GEORGIA BULLDOG Underwater Video System

Marine Extension's research vessel the GEORGIA BULLDOG serves as a platform to examine devices that are required by law in shrimp trawls. These devices allow sea turtles, fish and other marine organisms to exit from the shrimp net. The Turtle Excluder Device (TED) guides sea turtles, large fish and sharks out of the shrimp net. The Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD) gives finfish and crabs an opportunity to escape by providing an opening that is located past the TED. The need to actually see how these devices performed while towing the nets underwater was essential. Behavioral questions on how sea turtles, fish and shrimp react to different types of these devices needed to be answered.



The GEORGIA BULLDOG's captain, Lindsey Parker, developed an underwater video system that would allow fisheries biologists and gear researchers to view real-time video of the devices being tested. The system is self contained, requiring only room for the 350 LB unit and 220 volts for the hydraulic pump. With 100 meters of cable and eighteen conductors, the system can operate two cameras, two lights and a hydrophone simultaneously.






The real-time video and audio signals are monitored by specialists inside the wheel house of the research vessel. Recorded on high quality digital decks, the footage can be archived and edited into summary videos for peer review.

The recently acquired PTZ-2000 remote controlled camera will enable the operator to pan, tilt and zoom on the area of study. All of the cameras used in the system have depth ratings which exceed 300 meters.








This video frame grab, reveals how bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) feed on fish exiting from the BRD.





For more information on our underwater video system contact:
Lindsey Parker lparker@uga.edu

To learn more about the underwater cameras click below:



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