Acoustic classification of marine habitats in coastal Newfoundland

A digital acoustic seabed classification system, QTC Vies (Series IV) was used in the coastal waters of Newfoundland to characterize and classify marine benthic habitats. The QTC View system was calibrated in Placentia Bay at sites identified independently during a submersible research program. Four different habitats were used for calibration of the QTC View system: mud, gravel, rock, and macroalgae on rock. These different habitats were used as a "training" catalogue for real-time classification of marine habitats carried out in Bonavista Bay. The classification data were based on over 2000 km of survey tracks ranging in depth from approximately 10-m to 220-m depth. Post classification analyses were carried out using data visualization techniques. simultaneously comparing the classification data in mathematical and geographic settings. Following post classification, eight different marine habitats were identified using the acoustic system: mud, loose gravel, gravel, rock, sparse algae/cobble, macroalgae, high relief/deep cobble, and wood chips. Throughout the surveyed area, rock habitat dominated, followed by sparse algae/cobble and high relief/cobble habitat types. The wood chip habitat type was identified within a small area that historically had been associated with logging in coastal Newfoundland.