Seismic surveys and marine wildlife: Ideas for managing real and perceived impacts

Sufficient scientific data exist to conclude that seismic airguns used in geophysical exploration have a low probability of directly harming most marine life, except at close range where physical injury is a real danger. While the use of airguns in some conditions does not appear to disturb animals, in other conditions it can result in moderate to extreme behavioral responses and/or acoustic masking over large areas (see reviews by: Clark et al., 2009; D.P. Nowacek et al., 2007; Southall et al., 2007 and original research by Miller et al., 2009, Castellote et al., 2012 and Cerchio et al., 2014). Additionally, recent studies have reported the presence of sound energy from seismic surveys over vast ranges of nearly 4000 km (Nieukirk et al., 2012), and while the potential for effects have not even been investigated at such ranges, the presence of the signals must be taken into account when evaluating overall potential for impacts. Most documented responses to seismic exploration or other intermittent human activities involving loud sounds include apparently temporary changes in behavior, but a detailed scientific understanding of the prevalence and implications of these effects remains limited. Recent efforts to include acoustic disturbance into an understanding of population level consequences are, however, promising (e.g., Harwood et al., 2011).

Duke Scholars

Author Douglas Nowacek Marine Science and Conservation