Underwater cameras film 12,000 animals off Isles of Scilly

Using underwater cameras, researchers have recorded thousands of marine animals, including sharks, lobsters, octopuses and bluefin tuna, in waters around the Isles of Scilly off the south-west coast of Cornwall.

The study, led by the University of Exeter alongside the Isles of Scilly Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority and Natural England, highlights the archipelago as one of the UK’s most ‘near-natural’ marine ecosystems.

Using baited cameras, the researchers filmed numerous species of marine life, including this octopus. Credit: Dr Owen Exeter

The cameras also captured catsharks – a harmless, bottom-dwelling species of shark – swimming over a reef. Credit: Dr Owen Exeter

While not untouched by human activity, the Isles of Scilly benefit from relatively low fishing pressure, protection from practices such as bottom trawling, and careful fisheries management, says lead author Dr Owen Exeter from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation.

“The richness and variety of marine life around the Isle of Scilly is wonderful to see,” says Exeter. “Our cameras recorded nearly 12,000 individual animals, from 64 species, including large populations of commercially targeted species such as lobsters and small sharks.

“We also saw bluefin tuna – which have recently returned to UK waters after largely disappearing due to overfishing.

“By studying ecosystems like this, we can start to understand what a healthy UK marine environment should look like,” says Exeter. “This gives us a crucial reference point as we work to restore degraded areas elsewhere.”

Map showing the Isles of Scilly study area and conservation areas. Credit: Exeter et al.

Central to the research were Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVs) – relatively low-cost, non-destructive cameras that can track species diversity and abundance over time.

“MPAs [Marine Protected Areas] are only as effective as the protections and monitoring in place to support them,” says Dr Kristian Metcalfe, associate professor in Marine Conservation Science at the University of Exeter, who explains that the cameras are “non-destructive, relatively inexpensive, and scalable – making them a great option for regular biodiversity assessments across large areas of our coastal seas.”

The study also led to the Isles of Scilly being designated as an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA), highlighting the region’s role for four shark species, including catsharks and blue sharks.