Liquid lens aids study of murky water dwellers

Developed by Swansea University doctoral student Robyn Jones, the lens - a clear liquid optical chamber (CLOC) – was added to a baited remote underwater video (BRUV) system in order to help scientists observe the fish that live around our shallow coastal seas.

While similar chambers have been previously used by the marine surveying industry assessment of habitats at the bottom of deep water, the university claims that adding the CLOC to the BRUV system as a way to assess the movement of fish is new.

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According to Jones, the equipment could be used to study fish communities living around marine renewable structures, such as offshore wind, tidal, and wave energy developments, where the waters are typically cloudy.

“It has long been a challenge for scientists to find a way to study biodiversity in these cloudy waters in a way does not disrupt these sensitive and complex habitats,” explained Jones. “While underwater cameras do help improve our knowledge of the coastal environment, the main drawback is their restricted use in low visibility environments. However, it is vital for us to be able to examine these areas as they are commonly considered critically important for biodiversity, fisheries, energy and increasingly ecosystem services.”