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A survey of the subtidal physical and biological features of the VEHEAP Harbours area (Victoria and Esquimalt Harbour, Gorge and Portage Inlet and Esquimalt Lagoon) with the intent of mapping the general distribution and position of physical and biological features for both inventory and harbour management purposes. The distribution of filamentous red algae species on the seabed based on visual classification of each second of the video imagery as well as subsequent dive survey verification. Filamentous red algae cover is mapped in one of two cover categories (sparse to low cover = trace to 25% cover and moderate to dense cover = 25 to 100% cover). There are two groups of filamentous algae, the first being a mix of red algae (primarily Neoagardhiella and Gracilaria) which grow in the shallow subtidal on small gravels in fine sand and silt bottoms and the second being a diverse mix of species (including Gastroclonium, Odonthalia, Prionitis) usually found on rocky substrates and often co-occurring with the foliose red algae. |