Assessment of attraction and avoidance behaviors of fish in response to the proximity of transiting underwater vehicles

Abstract

— Underwater vehicles have many advantages for sampling fish; however, estimates can be biased by behavioral responses to sampling gear. To evaluate avoidance and attraction bias we assessed changes in fish abundance relative to a variety of sampling vehicles during transit through a test bed. Fish species were classified into five attraction and avoidance categories according to the behavioral responses exhibited. We observed that the rigor of behavioral responses varied by vehi- cle, vehicle range and altitude, transect