Characterisation of intertidal habitat types in the Musquash Marine Protected Area using aerial drone photography

Appropriately responding to a marine pollution event, especially hydrocarbon spills, often requires detailed knowledge of local habitat and environmental features. Access to high resolution habitat profiles can support effective spill response plans, informing discussions on protection priorities or expediated remediation. However, marine habitat composition data for a given area is often lacking due to the high cost and effort of conducting such surveys across the vast shorelines of Canada. The purpose of this study was to develop methodologies for conducting rapid and affordable habitat compositions in the marine environment via drone aerial photography; an emerging technology for conducting high resolution surveys. We used the Musquash Marine Protected Area (MPA; Musquash, NB, Canada) as a model system as it contains a diverse range of habitat types, is a region of conservation concern in Atlantic Canada, and is in close proximity to oil and gas handling facilities and vessel traffic. The MPA consists of a tidal river that outflows into the Bay of Fundy. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) software, we subdivided the MPA into several transects (N =61) that were used to generate flight plans for a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS; DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise, DJI ). The RPAS was flown (6 m s-1) at an altitude of 100m (Above ground level) taking images with side (70%) and front (80%) overlap. Resulting images were then compiled as an orthomosaic map using Pix4Dmatic software. These data will be used to inform marine spill response planning in the region, to support marine planning and conservation, and Marine Protected Area (MPA) monitoring efforts as well as develop further methodological approaches for conducting RPAS-based habitat surveys in other coastal systems within Atlantic Canada. Cite this data as: Lawrence MJ, Coates PJ, Matheson K, Hamer A. Characterisation of intertidal habitat types in the Musquash Marine Protected Area using aerial drone photography. Published November 2025. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews, N.B.