Australian Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey

The Australian Continuous Plankton Recorder (AusCPR) survey is a joint project of the CSIRO[1] and the Australian Antarctic Division,[2] DEWHA,[3] to monitor plankton communities as a guide to the health of Australia's oceans.

In 1931, this device formed the basis of the ongoing CPR survey of the North Atlantic.

The key to its success as a frequent basin-scale sampler is that the device is towed behind ships of opportunity (SOOPs) unaccompanied by scientists or research staff, making it a cost-effective sampling platform.

The plankton enters a small opening in the device and is trapped and preserved between two layers of silk mesh.

Data generated by the survey will be made freely available according to the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS)] [4] data policy and will provide researchers and policy makers with environmental and climatic indicators on harmful algal blooms, eutrophication, pollution, climate change and fisheries.