FIELD IDENTIFICATION GUIDE TO HEARD ISLAND AND MCDONALD ISLAND (HIMI) BENTHIC INVERTEBRATES: A GUIDE FOR SCIENTIFIC OBSERVERS ABOARD FISHING VESSELS

Australia has developed the “Field identification guide to Heard Island and McDonald Island (HIMI) benthic invertebrates: a guide for scientific observers aboard fishing vessels”. This Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and industry funded production is first of its kind for the region, and is intended to be used as both a training tool prior to deployment at-sea, as well as for use by trained observers to make accurate identifications of invertebrate by-catch when operating in the HIMI region. Based on available data, this publication will include instructions to observers for collection of benthic organisms at sea, quick-reference pictorial guides to invertebrate phyla, common species and CCAMLR identification codes, and detailed identification notes for each phylum including representative images for more than 400 benthic organisms identified from the HIMI region thus far. This guide will enable observers to gather invertebrate by-catch data at higher taxonomic resolutions.