Near-seafloor imagery survey benthic taxa occurrences in 2016 and 2017 of three Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas in Southwest New Brunswick, Canada (Head Harbour/West Isles/the Passages, The Wolves Islands, and Southern Grand Manan)

Video was subdivided into 30-s increments, where occurrence of taxa and overall visibility was reported once for every 30-s interval. Seafloor substrates were also analyzed as the dominant cover in each still image and video interval. A total of 19216 and 16827 taxa occurrences (excluding absences) were recorded in the video intervals and still images respectively, predominately on fine grain and pebble substrates.

Common taxa include unknown sponges, ascidians, algae, sea scallops, Cancer crabs, anemones, and sea stars. The HH/WI/P EBSA was particularly diverse, with an average of 15 and 17 taxa in the video intervals and still images respectively. Boltenia ovifera and Modiolus modiolus were observed forming biogenic fields and reefs within this EBSA, while sea urchins were also observed in sporadic high abundances.