Exciting news from FJORDSTRONG! Last summer, our team ventured to Orkney to survey flapper skate egg nurseries & their surrounding areas using cutting-edge, non-destructive technologies in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast, ARK Natuurontwikkeling, Orkney Skate Trust & NatureScot. Check out the amazing footage we captured of these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat!
Flapper skate are Critically Endangered, and their egg nurseries are crucial for the survival of future generations. But with an egg gestation period of 18 months, flapper skate have to withstand numerous pressures before they even hatch! That’s why our mission was to test new zero-impact methods for identifying egg nurseries and surveying marine biodiversity without disturbing the ecosystem.
And we did just that! Our TowFish camera covered over 70,000 m2 of seabed gliding over boulder reefs and through kelp forests, while our stereo-BRUVs allowed us to take non-invasive measurements of flapper skate, spotted skate and spurdog without removing them from their environment. This not only protects these amazing creatures, but also provides valuable data for conservation efforts. This is just one example of how technology can play a positive role in conservation efforts.
Take a dive with us and witness the beauty of marine conservation in action! Check out more of our exciting footage and see the impact of our zero-impact methods at www.fjordstrong.com!
