Conservationists have recruited sea lions equipped with cameras to help map unexplored Australian waters.

PhD student Nathan Angelakis from the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) attached cameras and GPS loggers to Australian sea lions from colonies in Olive Island and Seal Bay.

The animals can reach inaccessible habitats and cover larger areas faster than conventional research vessels, providing unique insights into the marine environment from the perspective of an ocean predator.

“The sea lions explored previously unmapped areas of the ocean, found new reefs and discovered amazingly diverse habitats on the sea floor,” said Angelakis.

“This information will be critical to protecting and managing their populations in the future. Habitats and areas that are valuable to Australian sea lions may also be important to other important marine species.”

The population of Australian sea lions has declined by 60% in the last 40 years.

Angelakis used lightweight cameras glued to the material of wetsuits, which in turn were glued to the fur of female sea lions. The cameras were removed after two to six days at sea when the females returned to feed their young.

By analyzing the recorded footage, preferred hunting methods and locations and even the preferences of individual animals became clear: for example, some preferred to eat cod, while others preferred squid.

The sea lions explored previously unmapped areas of the ocean, found new reefs and discovered amazingly diverse habitats on the seabed.

Preferred habitats include lush kelp reefs, dense sponge gardens and bare sand plains. SARDI will use the data obtained from the project for the conservation and management of marine protected areas.

Angelakis said: “If we are to protect these vital ecosystems in the future, we need to better understand how seabed habitats function and how they can be altered by human activities.”