Project Report PR-97-01
An Analysis of the Fish Communities Along the Barbers Point Ocean Outfall, Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, Using Remote Video, 1996 Data
Richard E. Brock
October 1996
ABSTRACT
Because the diffuser of the Barbers Point Ocean Outfall lies below safe diving depths, a remotely controlled video camera system was used to determine the status of the marine fish communities and selected diurnally exposed macroinvertebrate species residing on the diffuser. Video reconnaissance was completed over the entire 534-m length. Three visual “transects,” which “sampled” approximately 31% of the total diffuser length, were established on the diffuser pipe. Video sampling of the diffuser fish communities was carried out in January of each year from 1992 through 1995 and in March of 1996. The results of the five annual surveys indicate that the diffuser fish communities are dominated by species that are either small as adults or juveniles of larger species, probably as a result of the presence of only small-scale shelter created by small armor rock and gravel used in constructing the discharge pipe. Because of poor camera resolution, differing angles of the camera, small fish sizes, and the fishesº nature to flee from the approaching camera, the fish census Data are highly variable and should be viewed as more qualitative than quantitative in nature. Despite this variability from transect to transect and year to year, only one parameter showed any statistical change over the five annual survey years. This parameter was the mean size of the area sampled to find an individual fish. Little significance should be attached to any change noted in the fish or macrobenthic communities residing on the Barbers Point diffuser because of the variable quality of the Data generated by use of the remotely controlled video system.