BACKGROUND
Our cameras are situated in Pope’s Eye Marine National Park. Popes Eye is situated in the heart of Port Phillip Bay and is one of six sites that make up the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park. This horseshoe rock formation began construction in the 1880s with the intention of being an island fort to help defend the entrance to Port Phillip Heads. Bluestone boulders were placed to create the foundations of the fort, yet construction was decommissioned after technology advancements allowed guns at Fort Nepean, Fort Queenscliff and South Channel Fort to be capable of defending the heads, seeing no use for Pope’s Eye. The construction was ceased, and the foundations lie in Port Phillip Bay ever since.
In the 1979 Popes Eye became Victoria’s first Marine Protected Area. Since the construction of the fort ended, a colony of an extensive range of Victorian marine plants and animals has formed, creating an underwater magnificence. High-endism, picturesque seascapes and home to an array of unique species, including Leatherjackets, Magpie Perch, Dusky Morwong, Victorian Scalyfin, Blue Throated Wrasse, Longsnouted Boarfish and Blue Groper – just to name a few. Pope’s Eye also acts as a breeding zone for seabird species, Australasian Gannets. This species has inhabited Pope’s Eye since the mid-1980s and population numbers have continued to thrive ever since.
UnderWater Camera
The submerged camera has been mounted on concrete blocks that are attached to the seabed through an anchorage system, to ensure no movement or damage to the camera from strong ocean currents. The underwater camera provides a window into the marine world, in a way that has been designed to maximise natural features e.g., light, whilst keeping disturbances to the marine flora and fauna minimal.
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Under Water Camera
Above Water Camera
The above water camera commonly features the great colony of Australian Gannets inhabiting the top of the Bluestone boulder structure. All above water infrastructure was strategically designed by TNC to reduce disturbances to the gannet colony. Through collaboration with Deakin University, SOEL aims to enhance research and support new investigations toward the colony of Australian Gannets which have shown to be keystone species of Port Phillip Bay.
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Above Water Camera
Check out the cameras in action
What’s next for the Popes Eye Camera?
Popes Eye Cameras are seeing big updates in the near future! With TNC taking on new and exciting projects including Reef Builder, a partnership with the Australian Government to bring shellfish reefs back from the brink of extinction, it has paved way for SOEL to take over operations and management of the existing cameras.
SOEL aims to build on what TNC has created and continue to develop online educational resources for schools and beyond. Creating a platform to increase marine advocacy for emerging generations.
The next step for Popes Eye will include installing a weather station recording and monitoring conditions. These live updates will be available online for all local businesses, community members and users of the bay to log online and assess the current conditions.
Further collaborations with Deakin University, EPA, Sea Road Ferries and Park Victoria will continue to support research and innovation projects to connect with Port Phillip Bay and promote marine advocacy to improve the health of the fragile southern seascapes.
In collaboration with Deakin University, steward scientists will utilise innovative technology and Artificial Intelligence to monitor Australasian gannet contribution to Port Phillip Bay biodiversity and the ability to store and recycle Blue Carbon. The community will be encouraged through online platforms and educational content to become involved in mapping the frequency and location of gannets and to track the removal of seagrass being redistributed for nest building.
