Monitoring the gray whale sound exposure mitigation zone and estimating acoustic transmission during a 4-D seismic survey, Sakhalin Island, Russia

Racca, Roberto; Austin, Melanie E.; Rutenko, A. N.; Bröker, Koen

doi:10.3354/esr00703

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Three non-telemetric AUARs were located closer to shore in water depths of 10 m to provide detailed information on sound propagation for post hoc analyses (Rutenko et al 2012). Racca et al (2015, this Theme Section) provide further details of acous tic data acquisition during the seismic survey. For analysis, the sound levels from the seismic source required distinct treatment for periods of seismic survey activity ('on') and periods devoid of it ('off').…”

Section: Acoustic Monitoring and Sound-level Estimationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To examine the behavioural responses of the whales, sound level variables were estimated at the tracked animal's location for each observation bin in the behavioural dataset (see Racca et al 2015 for further details). Gray whales were exposed to an average per-pulse sound exposure level (SEL) from the seismic survey of 132 dB re 1 μPa 2 -s (range: 99 to 156 dB re 1 μPa 2 -s, n = 161; Fig.…”

Section: Acoustic Monitoring and Sound-level Estimationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Behavioural responses of western gray whales to a 4-D seismic survey off northeastern Sakhalin Island, Russia

Gailey

Sychenko

McDonald³

et al. 2016

Endang. Species. Res.

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A seismic survey was conducted off the northeastern coast of Sakhalin Island, Russia in 2010. The survey area was adjacent to the only known near-shore feeding ground of the Critically Endangered population of western gray whales Eschrichtius robustus in the western Pacific south of the Aleutian Islands. This study examined the effectiveness of efforts to minimize the behavioural responses of the whales to vessel proximity and sound during the survey. Two shore-based behavioural observation teams monitored whale movements and respirations pre-, during and post-seismic survey. Theodolite tracking and focal-animal follow methods were used to collect behavioural data. Mixed linear models were used to examine deviations from 'normal' patterns in 10 movement and 7 respiration response variables in relation to vessel proximity, vessel/ whale relative orientations and 8 received sound metrics to examine if seismic survey sound and/or vessel activity influenced the whales' behaviour. Behavioural state and water depth were the best 'natural' predictors of whale movements and respiration. After considering natural variation, none of the response variables were significantly associated with seismic survey or vessel sounds. A whale's distance from shore and its orientation relative to the closest vessel were found to be significantly influenced by vessel proximity, which suggested some non-sound related disturbance. The lack of evidence that the whales responded to seismic survey sound and vessel traffic by changing either their movement or respiration patterns could indicate that the current mitigation strategy is effective. However, power analyses suggest that our sample sizes were too small to detect subtle to moderate changes in gray whale behaviour. Endang Species Res 30: 53-71, 2016 recovered and remains a small remnant of what it was in the 19 th century. Around 140 (CI: 134−146) non-calf individuals regularly occur off Sakhalin Island, Russia, with 36 reproductive females and an annual population rate of increase of 3.3% (Cooke et al. 2013), although issues regarding population structure remain (see IWC 2015). The western gray whale population is considered to be one of the most endangered baleen whale populations (Clapham & Baker 2002, Weller et al. 2002 and is currently listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN and Category I in the Red Book of Russia (Red Book of the Russian Federation 2000, Baillie et al. 2004).Human activities, particularly those related to oil and gas exploration and development, have been increasing in the past 15 yr off northeastern Sakhalin Island, on and near the only known major feeding area of this population of gray whales. To minimize the impacts of such activity on the whales, several mitigation and monitoring plans (MMP) have been implemented targeting specific activities, such as seismic surveys, platform installation, dredging and pipeline placement (Johnson et al. 2007, SEIC 2005, 2006. Despite efforts to reduce overall sound exposure levels, responses by the whales wer...

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Section: Acoustic Monitoring and Sound-level Estimationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Acoustic Monitoring and Sound-level Estimationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural responses of western gray whales to a 4-D seismic survey off northeastern Sakhalin Island, Russia

Gailey

Sychenko

McDonald³

et al. 2016

Endang. Species. Res.

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…The cSEL calculations used the es timated median sound exposure level (SEL) over depth for individual seismic acquisition pulses and did not include contributions of non-pulse sound energy from other sources. Details of the acoustic numerical modelling are provided in Racca et al (2015).…”

Section: Sound Covariatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gray whale densities during a seismic survey off Sakhalin Island, Russia

Muir¹,

Ainsworth²,

Racca³

et al. 2016

Endang. Species. Res.

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“…While it is possible to conduct ground-truthing of far-field received levels (e.g. Bröker et al 2015;Racca et al 2015;Nowacek and Southall 2016), ground-truthing cannot be conducted in short timeframes to inform adaptive mitigation. Further explanation of the merits and limitations of different ground-truthing methods is covered in the Report of the Acoustic Ground-Truthing Technical Working Group as part of New Zealand's 2015-2016 Seismic Code of Conduct Review process (Department of Conservation 2016).…”

Section: Sound Source Verificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demonstrating an acceptable level of impact: an assessment of noise impacts to fishes from a seismic survey in an Australian Marine Park

Edgell¹,

Colman²,

Jarvis

et al. 2019

The APPEA Journal

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A key challenge of the environmental regulatory framework for offshore petroleum activities in Australia is the requirement to demonstrate acceptability, with the legislation placing the onus on petroleum titleholders to demonstrate that the impacts and risks posed by an activity will be of an acceptable level and reduced to as low as reasonably practicable. This paper presents a case study on the assessment of noise impacts to fishes for the Bethany 3D Marine Seismic Survey, which was acquired by Santos Ltd in mid-2018. The survey area was encompassed entirely by the Oceanic Shoals Marine Park, and also overlapped a significant proportion of the Timor Reef Fishery, a regionally important demersal scalefish fishery. The survey area overlapped a key ecological feature and a range of geomorphic features characterised by benthic habitats supporting demersal and benthic fish communities, including site-attached species. On this basis, the evaluation of impacts and risks required a multi-faceted approach, with seven key elements: (1) acoustic modelling; (2) application of sound exposure guidelines; (3) a quantitative risk assessment (benthic habitat predictive modelling and spatial analysis of site-attached fish assemblages); (4) the definition of an acceptable level of impact; (5) a sound source verification process; (6) engagement with key stakeholders; and (7) an independent, expert peer review process. The outcomes of each of these steps were incorporated into the environment plan, and enabled the titleholder to demonstrate that, with adopted control measures in place, environmental impacts and risks from the seismic survey could be managed to an acceptable level.

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Monitoring the gray whale sound exposure mitigation zone and estimating acoustic transmission during a 4-D seismic survey, Sakhalin Island, Russia

Cited by 12 publications

References 23 publications

Behavioural responses of western gray whales to a 4-D seismic survey off northeastern Sakhalin Island, Russia

Behavioural responses of western gray whales to a 4-D seismic survey off northeastern Sakhalin Island, Russia

Gray whale densities during a seismic survey off Sakhalin Island, Russia

Demonstrating an acceptable level of impact: an assessment of noise impacts to fishes from a seismic survey in an Australian Marine Park

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