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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 bladed kelps (primarily laminarian kelps, including L. saccharina, Costaria costata and Cymathere triplicata.) on the seabed based on visual classification of each second of the video imagery as well as subsequent dive survey verification. Bladed kelp 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). Bladed kelps generally occur on rocky substrates (bedrock, boulders and cobbles) in both exposed and protected areas. |