Surveys were conducted as part of an assessment of the Macrocystis pyrifera (Linnaeus) C. Agardh 1820 beds on the east coast of Tasmania by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industry Research Organization (CSIRO) Division of Fisheries seaweed program in the early 1950's. Surveys were conducted because of interest in the Macrocystis beds as a source of alginates. Surveys were done between 1950 and mid 1953. The paper was published in 1954.

Actual surveys not conducted by the author of the paper (AB Cribb). Description of technique for surveys not included in the paper. Presumably, the mapping was done from a boat using line of sight. Craig Sanderson scanned and registered copies of the maps taken from the published papers and digitised the outlines of the beds as presented in the paper using Mapinfo.

Position Accuracy: Difficult to gauge the accuracy of the surveys but there is reason to doubt some of the results. For example: 1. In some areas, there have been no Macrocystis beds recorded since; 2. in others the water would be too deep (>30m); or 3. the substrate is predominantly sand which would not support Macrocystis. Most inaccuracy is likely to be in the width of the beds, and is probably +/- 50%. Length of the beds along the coasts is probably accurate to within +/-5%. Attribute Accuracy: Presence absence data - no attributes. Logical Consistency: See completeness. Completeness: The survey ostensibly included the entire Tasmanian East Coast, however sections of the Bruny Island and Tasman and Forestier Peninsula's have not been included eg. Fortesque Bay and Lagoon Bay and up around the Gardens areas which might be expected to carry significant Macrocystis beds. Fortesque Bay and Lagoon Bay have not known to have been without Macrocystis in recent history (last 15-20 years) and likely to have definitely had some at the time of the survey.