Projects

The Ascension Island MPA supports a wide range of long-term monitoring and research projects aimed at building baseline data, tracking ecosystem change, and informing management of ~445,000 km² of ocean!

Shallow Reef Drop Camera Surveys
Drop camera systems are deployed on shallow reefs to monitor rock-associated fish communities. These surveys provide data on species composition, abundance, and habitat use, allowing long-term tracking of reef ecosystem health and supporting local fisheries management.

Otolith Studies
Fish otoliths (ear bones) are analysed to determine age and growth rates. These data are essential for understanding population dynamics and supporting sustainable fisheries management.

Fisheries Monitoring (Pierhead Sampling)
Fish landed at the pier are regularly sampled to collect data on species, size, and catch composition. This supports sustainable fisheries management by providing evidence on stock status and fishing pressure.

Plankton Tows
Plankton tows are conducted to sample microscopic organisms forming the base of the marine food web. This work helps identify seasonal and spatial changes in plankton communities, as well as larval stages of fish and invertebrates, informing understanding of productivity and recruitment.

Rock Pool Monitoring
Regular surveys of intertidal rock pools are carried out to detect invasive or newly arriving species. This provides an early warning system for biosecurity risks and helps track ecological changes linked to climate-driven species range shifts.

Settlement Plates
Artificial settlement plates are deployed in the marine environment to measure rates of organism colonisation. They are particularly useful for detecting invasive species and understanding patterns of recruitment and community development over time.

Environmental Logger Monitoring
Long-term environmental sensors record parameters such as pH, temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen. These datasets provide high-resolution insights into ocean conditions and help identify trends and anomalies linked to climate change.

Acoustic Shark Tag Array
An array of acoustic receivers tracks the movements of tagged sharks around the island. This project provides information on residency, habitat use, and movement patterns, supporting effective spatial management within the MPA.

Time-Lapse Shark Camera Systems
Time-lapse camera systems are used to monitor shark presence and behaviour over extended periods. This approach reveals temporal patterns, such as daily or seasonal changes, and complements acoustic tracking data.

CTD Casts (Conductivity–Temperature–Depth)
CTD instruments are deployed to collect vertical profiles of temperature, salinity, and depth. These data characterise water column structure and provide important environmental context for biological observations.

RUV Deployments (Remote Underwater Video)
RUV systems are deployed to survey mobile fish communities. They provide standardised, non-extractive data on species presence, relative abundance, and biodiversity across different habitats.

Mesophotic Ecosystem Research
Research on mesophotic reefs (approximately 30–300 m depth) uses remote technologies such as drop cameras and ROVs. This work fills critical knowledge gaps about deeper ecosystems that make up the majority of the MPA.

eDNA Monitoring
Environmental DNA sampling involves collecting and analysing genetic material from seawater. This allows detection of a wide range of species, including rare or cryptic organisms, providing a powerful tool for biodiversity monitoring.

Plastics Monitoring
Surveys of marine plastic pollution are conducted through beach assessments and at-sea observations. This work tracks the abundance and types of debris, helping to identify sources and inform mitigation efforts.