NESP D3 Hunter Marine Park Bathymetry: Multi-beam Sonar Surveys 2015-2019

Gridded multi-beam echosounder bathymetry data for the Hunter Marine Park, acquired in 2015 and 2018. The dataset was funded by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and the National Environmental Science Program (NESP Biodiversity Hub). Surveys focused on areas containing the Key Ecological Feature 'Continental Shelf Reef' east of Seal Rocks and Broughton Island.

Use Cases

• Model seafloor habitat based on gridded bathymetry data mentioned in the description
• Analyze the distribution of the Key Ecological Feature 'Continental Shelf Reef' based on survey locations
• Integrate bathymetric data with biological survey data (towed video, BRUVs) referenced in associated reports

Strengths

• Data collected over two distinct survey years (2015 and 2018), allowing for temporal comparison
• Focused 100% coverage mapping in 2018 over previously identified key ecological areas
• Associated with published reports detailing survey methodology and biological findings

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, NSW Department of Planning Industry and Environment, National Environmental Science Program (NESP Biodiversity Hub)

Collection Method

Acquired using a multi-beam echosounder system aboard RV Bombora

Time Range

2015, 2018-2019

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-28 12:33:43.266040; freshness should be verified

Geography

Hunter Marine Park, specifically areas east and south-east of Seal Rocks, Outer Gibber, and east of Broughton Island, New South Wales, Australia