Cetacean Stock Assessments in Relation to Exploration and Production Industry Activity and Other Human Pressures: Review and Data Needs

Thomsen, Frank; McCully, Sophy R.; Weiss, Laura R.; Wood, Daniel; Warr, Karema J.; Barry, Jon; Law, Robin

doi:10.1578/am.37.1.2011.1

Cited by 22 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 114 publications

(209 reference statements)

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“…Nevertheless, our focus on harbour porpoises makes these results relevant to the management of Northern Hemisphere shelf seas, as this is the most common cetacean in many areas currently or potentially exposed to offshore energy developments [11]. On the one hand, this species’ relatively high sensitivity to anthropogenic noise may provide a conservative indication of the level of response by other small cetaceans using these areas [2,18].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the one hand, this species’ relatively high sensitivity to anthropogenic noise may provide a conservative indication of the level of response by other small cetaceans using these areas [2,18]. However, like many other parts of the North Sea, our study area has a long history of exposure to impulsive noise and other anthropogenic activity [11,43]. In combination with our evidence for a decrease in response levels over the 10 day seismic survey (figure 4 c ), it seems likely that stronger responses may be expected in populations that have previously had little exposure to anthropogenic noise [12].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In some development areas, there are concerns that animals could be exposed to an increased risk of mortality should they be displaced from high-quality habitats [12], or into areas where there was a higher risk of by-catch [54] or interspecific competition [55]. Our evidence of continued use of areas impacted by noise from a seismic survey provides a clearer focus for the assessments of population consequences of acoustic disturbance that are increasingly required to support development proposals [11]. These findings suggest that broader-scale exclusion from preferred habitats is unlikely.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Attention has focused on impacts on baleen whale populations, because their low-frequency hearing suggests that they are most vulnerable to the effects of the low-frequency anthropogenic noise [10]. However, there is increasing concern over the extent to which expanding oil and gas exploration may affect other cetacean species in both temperate shelf seas [11] and arctic waters [12]. The only information available on behavioural responses of smaller cetaceans that have higher frequency hearing is based on observations from seismic survey vessels [13,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although these observations include reports of aversive behaviour by small cetaceans [15], nothing is known about the spatial scales or longer-term consequences of these responses [1,16]. From a regulatory perspective, this is especially important, because potential impacts on protected species must increasingly be assessed in relation to longer-term population-level consequences [11]. Given increasing evidence of short-term responses to relatively low levels of noise [8,17], there are concerns that offshore energy developments could ensonify large areas, resulting in population impacts owing to displacement from preferred habitats [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Short-term disturbance by a commercial two-dimensional seismic survey does not lead to long-term displacement of harbour porpoises

et al. 2013

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Assessments of the impact of offshore energy developments are constrained because it is not known whether fine-scale behavioural responses to noise lead to broader-scale displacement of protected small cetaceans. We used passive acoustic monitoring and digital aerial surveys to study changes in the occurrence of harbour porpoises across a 2000 km2 study area during a commercial two-dimensional seismic survey in the North Sea. Acoustic and visual data provided evidence of group responses to airgun noise from the 470 cu inch array over ranges of 5–10 km, at received peak-to-peak sound pressure levels of 165–172 dB re 1 µPa and sound exposure levels (SELs) of 145–151 dB re 1 µPa2 s−1. However, animals were typically detected again at affected sites within a few hours, and the level of response declined through the 10 day survey. Overall, acoustic detections decreased significantly during the survey period in the impact area compared with a control area, but this effect was small in relation to natural variation. These results demonstrate that prolonged seismic survey noise did not lead to broader-scale displacement into suboptimal or higher-risk habitats, and suggest that impact assessments should focus on sublethal effects resulting from changes in foraging performance of animals within affected sites.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Short-term disturbance by a commercial two-dimensional seismic survey does not lead to long-term displacement of harbour porpoises

et al. 2013

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Responses of bottlenose dolphins and harbor porpoises to impact and vibration piling noise during harbor construction

et al. 2017

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Abstract. The development of risk assessments for the exposure of protected populations to noise from coastal construction is constrained by uncertainty over the nature and extent of marine mammal responses to man-made noise. Stakeholder concern often focuses on the potential for local displacement caused by impact piling, where piles are hammered into the seabed. To mitigate this threat, use of vibration piling, where piles are shaken into place with a vibratory hammer, is often encouraged due to presumed impact reduction. However, data on comparative responses of cetaceans to these different noise sources are lacking. We studied the responses of bottlenose dolphins and harbor porpoises to both impact and vibration pile driving noise during harbor construction works in northeast Scotland, using passive acoustic monitoring devices to record cetacean activity and noise recorders to measure and predict received noise levels. Local abundance and patterns of occurrence of bottlenose dolphins were also compared with a five-year baseline. The median peak-to-peak source level estimated for impact piling was 240 dB re 1 lPa (single-pulse sound exposure level [SEL] 198 dB re 1 lPa 2 s), and the r.m.s. source level for vibration piling was 192 dB re 1 lPa. Predicted received broadband SEL values 812 m from the piling site were markedly lower due to high propagation loss: 133.4 dB re 1 lPa 2 s (impact) and 128.9 dB re 1 lPa 2 s (vibration). Bottlenose dolphins and harbor porpoises were not excluded from sites in the vicinity of impact piling or vibration piling; nevertheless, some small effects were detected. Bottlenose dolphins spent a reduced period of time in the vicinity of construction works during both impact and vibration piling. The probability of occurrence of both cetacean species was also slightly less during periods of vibration piling. This work provides developers and managers with the first evidence of the comparative effects of vibration and impact piling on small cetaceans, enabling more informed risk assessments, policy frameworks, and mitigation plans. In particular, our results emphasize the need for better understanding of noise levels and behavioral responses to vibration piling before recommending its use to mitigate impact piling.

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WODA Technical Guidance on Underwater Sound from Dredging

Thomsen

Borsani

Clarke³

et al. 2016

The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life II

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The World Organization of Dredging Associations (WODA) has identified underwater sound as an environmental issue that needs further consideration. A WODA Expert Group on Underwater Sound (WEGUS) prepared a guidance paper in 2013 on dredging sound, including a summary of potential impacts on aquatic biota and advice on underwater sound monitoring procedures. The paper follows a risk-based approach and provides guidance for standardization of acoustic terminology and methods for data collection and analysis. Furthermore, the literature on dredging-related sounds and the effects of dredging sounds on marine life is surveyed and guidance on the management of dredging-related sound risks is provided.

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Cetacean Stock Assessments in Relation to Exploration and Production Industry Activity and Other Human Pressures: Review and Data Needs

Cited by 22 publications

References 114 publications

Short-term disturbance by a commercial two-dimensional seismic survey does not lead to long-term displacement of harbour porpoises

Short-term disturbance by a commercial two-dimensional seismic survey does not lead to long-term displacement of harbour porpoises

Responses of bottlenose dolphins and harbor porpoises to impact and vibration piling noise during harbor construction

WODA Technical Guidance on Underwater Sound from Dredging

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