The Chesterfield-Bellona atolls and reefs are a vast reef complex located in the Coral Sea Marine Park, established in 2014 in the New Caledonian Economic Exclusive Zone. In 2013, the New Caledonia government supported the first assessment of fish and benthic habitats conducted over the entire area. The assessment provided a primary knowledge base for establishing the importance of these atolls in terms of biodiversity and fished resources. This comprehensive survey relied on an unbaited underwater video technique that enabled to collect 185 successful camera drops distributed over all shallow habitats in the atolls.

Video analysis revealed 18 fish species that had not been previously reported in this area. These included commercially important species: two species of snapper (Lutjanus monostigma and Lutjanus rivulatus) and an emperor (Lethrinus atkinsoni). Most of the new species observed displayed relatively low occurrences (< 5 individuals over 185 camera drops). They were observed in three habitats: i) live coral-dominated; ii) debris-dominated; and iii) sandy bottoms.

 

Reference of the survey:   CHESTERFIELD-BELLONA 2013: http://dx.doi.org/10.17600/18002030