Seismic survey noise disrupted fish use of a temperate reef |
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| Institution: | 1. Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Department of Aquatic Resources, Skolgatan 6, SE-74242 Öregrund, Sweden;2. Uppsala University, Department of Earth Sciences, Villavägen 16, SE-75236 Uppsala, Sweden;1. Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa;2. School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa |
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| Abstract: | Marine seismic surveying discerns subsurface seafloor geology, indicative of, for example, petroleum deposits, by emitting high-intensity, low-frequency impulsive sounds. Impacts on fish are uncertain. Opportunistic monitoring of acoustic signatures from a seismic survey on the inner continental shelf of North Carolina, USA, revealed noise exceeding 170 dB re 1 μ Pa peak on two temperate reefs federally designated as Essential Fish Habitat 0.7 and 6.5 km from the survey ship path. Videos recorded fish abundance and behavior on a nearby third reef 7.9 km from the seismic track. During seismic surveying, reef-fish abundance declined by 78% during evening hours when fish habitat use was highest on the previous three days without seismic noise. Despite absence of videos documenting fish returns after seismic surveying, the significant reduction in fish occupation of the reef represents disruption to daily pattern. This numerical response confirms that conservation concerns associated with seismic surveying are realistic. |
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| Keywords: | Reef fish Airgun Oil and gas exploration Fish abundance Marine conservation |
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