Bruce Barker
Watch
Leader/Camera Operations [organisation: CSIRO]
What is your job title?
Research Projects Support Technician
What do you study and why is it important?
I
am involved in the study of shelf and upper slope habitats and
ecosystems. One of our main tools for this aspect of study is a
towed camera system. It is important that we learn more about previously
unseen and little known about marine habitats to help understand
the importance of seafloor habitat and the biodiversity it supports.
What will you be doing on the voyage?
Shift leader, leading camera tow operations, part of the camera
team, assisting with sampling and spatial data management
Where were you educated?
Gordon Technical College/ Deakin Uni but mostly on-the-job
training through experience
How did you become interested in the ocean?
Initially I became interested in the ocean through my hobbies of
fishing and diving. My interest and fascination has increased
throughout my working life in the field of marine sciences.
Do you get seasick? And if so, any tips on how not to?
Yes I do get seasick on occasions and I envy those sea-goers who
are 100% immune. For many years I have put up with seasickness
and find it the most difficult aspect of seagoing. I have started
to manage seasickness on a day-to-day basis using medication
and so far so good.
What do you enjoy about your work?
I enjoy the challenge of obtaining imagery of the seafloor and
inhabitants and seeing the results. There is an element of exploration
that I enjoy.
What are some of the challenges you face?
It is generally a challenge just working and living at sea but
collecting high-quality imagery of the seafloor in offshore environments
is a major challenge. At times we negotiate/fly the camera system
into canyons and down the steep faces of seamounts and this is
especially challenging. I am interested in being able to make
accurate measurements and derive good data from our imagery.
We use stereo-video to allow measurements in three dimensions.
Obtaining the best possible accuracy of measurement data remains
as a goal and challenge.
What have you learned/discovered? What do you hope to
learn?
I have learned about seabed habitats and the communities living
on the shelf and upper-slope. I now have a picture of the types
and distributions of seafloor communities in the deep-water off
southeastern Australia. I hope to learn more about the composition
of these communities and the role they play in the ecosystem.
How do you spend your spare time?
I am a keen fly fisherman so I try to go trout fishing as much
as I can during the open fishing season. I also enjoy other outdoor
activities including scuba diving, snow skiing, bushwalking and
camping.
