Download or read book The Relationship Between Vessel Traffic and Noise Levels Received by Killer Whales and an Evaluation of Compliance with Vessel Regulations written by Juliana Houghton and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Whale watching has become increasingly popular as an ecotourism activity around the globe and is beneficial for environmental education and local economies. Southern Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) comprise an endangered population that is frequently observed by a large whale watching fleet in the inland waters of Washington state and British Columbia. One of the factors identified as a risk to recovery for the population is the effect of vessels and associated noise. Federal regulations limit the approach distance of vessels to 200 m and voluntary guidelines suggest a maximum vessel speed of 7 knots within 400 m of the whales. An examination of the effects of vessels and associated noise on whale behavior utilized novel equipment to address limitations of previous studies. Digital acoustic recording tags measured the noise levels the tagged whales received while laser positioning systems allowed collection of geo-referenced data for tagged whales and all vessels within 1000 m. The objectives of the current study were 1) to compare vessel data and DTAG recordings to relate vessel traffic to the ambient noise tagged whales receive and 2) to utilize the vessel data to examine vessel behavior during whale watching and assess trends in vessel behavior over time. Vessel attributes found to be significant predictors of noise levels in the likelihood model, using all intervals of vessel and noise data, were length (inverse relationship), number of propellers, and vessel speed (however, R2 = 0.15). When intervals that only recorded the research vessel were excluded, the only significant predictor of noise levels in the likelihood model was vessel speed (R2 = 0.42). Average vessel speed and number of propellers per interval were the only significant correlates with noise levels using simple linear regression (i.e. ignoring other concurrent characteristics). Research, commercial whale watching, and private whale watching vessels increased their distance from observed whales over time. The occurrence of research and commercial whale watching vessels within 100 m of a tagged whale also significantly decreased over time. However, vessel speed (excluding research vessels) significantly increased over time for vessels at distances of 200 m and 400 m from whales. Compliance with the distance regulation has improved, even though distance was not a significant correlate with noise levels received by whales. Increases in vessel speed are a cause for concern since speed was the most important predictor of noise levels received by whales in this study. The information presented here may be useful to managers in assessing the effectiveness of current recovery efforts.
Download or read book Evaluation of the Scientific Evidence to Inform the Probability of Effectiveness of Mitigation Measures in Reducing Shipping related Noise Levels Received by Southern Resident Killer Whales written by Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book An Integrative Approach for Evaluating Compliance with Vessel Regulations to Reduce Disturbances to Killer Whales orcinus Orca written by Nikol J. Damato and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Assessment of Vessel Noise Within the Southern Resident Killer Whale Interim Sanctuary Zones written by Marie-Noël R. Matthews and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The Government of Canada, aiming to reduce SRKW exposure to underwater noise from vessels, implemented Interim Sanctuary Zones around Saturna and Pender Islands (Salish Sea) from 1 June to 31 October 2019. JASCO Applied Sciences (JASCO) performed a study to quantify vessel noise both with and without the implementation of these zones to estimate their effectiveness in reducing vessel noise levels within the zones. JASCO's cumulative noise model was applied for each zone to predict monthly averaged noise levels associated with vessel traffic conditions before and during the implementation of the sanctuary zones. The effectiveness of these zones is assessed quantitatively according to the estimated changes in noise levels. The results, which consider multiple commercial, government and recreational vessel classes, show that this mitigation approach would result in a decrease of unweighted noise levels by, on average, 0.5 (±0.4) dB within the Saturna Island Interim Sanctuary Zone and 3.0 (±1.0) dB within the Pender Island Interim Sanctuary Zone. The decrease is greater for audiogram-weighted noise levels: 2.2 (±1.1) dB and 4.6 (±1.3) dB, respectively. These results are based on an idealized level of compliance by vessels in the area, and accounts for the exemptions stated in the 2019 Interim Order"--Page iii.
Download or read book Evaluation of the Effects on Underwater Noise Levels from Shifting Vessel Traffic Away from Southern Resident Killer Whale Foraging Areas in the Strait of Juan de Fuca in 2018 written by Svein Vagle and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Between August 20 and October 31, 2018 the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority andTransport Canada led a voluntary program where all outbound deep sea vessels and inshore vessels (tugs) in a portion of the Strait of Juan de Fuca were requested to shift their outbound tracks southwards, and further away from areas of critical importance to the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) population. The main goal of this study was to investigate the efficacy of lateral vessel displacement to reduce the impact of underwater vessel noise on SRKW at three locations off Port Renfrew, Jordan River and Sooke"--Abstract, page iv.
Download or read book Vessel Traffic Regulations to Protect Killer Whales in Puget Sound written by and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Journal of Cetacean Research and Management written by and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 600 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Final Environmental Assessment for New Regulations to Protect Killer Whales from Vessel Effects in Inland Waters of Washington written by and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "NMFS will adopt new regulations to protect killer whales in inland waters of Washington State. The regulations include a 200 yard approach restriction and a prohibition on parking in the path of the whales for all vessels, with some exceptions. The regulations may affect the experience of commercial and recreational whale watchers by increasing the viewing distance from the whales. No significant impacts on recreational opportunities to go whale watching, commercial whale watching businesses, or other resources are anticipated"--Cover letter.
Download or read book Whale and Small Vessel Interactions written by Molly Fraser and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Compliance is a key feature for the management of non-consumptive wildlife viewing, as it can link management measures to performance and aid in developing recommendations that promote sustainable practices. Whale watching is a prominent wildlife viewing industry that is steadily rising in demand around the world. Managing vessel-cetacean encounters and operator behaviour (both commercial and recreational) is key to limiting impacts on cetaceans, yet the scale of regulatory compliance is often poor or unknown. Although efforts exist to regulate whale watching, challenges arise for the assessment of compliance in marine environments, as they are inherently spatially vast, lack physical boundaries, and can involve mobile stressors (i.e. vessels) and species. Chapter 1 reviews the shift in paradigms from consumptive to non-consumptive activities and highlights challenges for those tasked with managing the growing wildlife tourism industry, and in particular, whale watching. After reviewing a suite of measures prevalent around the world, this chapter then focuses on the Salish Sea's approach to managing whale watching. This area epitomizes a major whale watching hub and displays complex, multi-jurisdictional and constantly evolving measures. Due to a lack of knowledge in this region, Chapter 2 shifts from theory to practice and assesses regulatory compliance with marine mammal distance regulations from 2018 to 2019 in the Salish Sea. Although compliance was nearly 80%, key drivers including vessel and species type were found to significantly influence non-compliance. Recreational vessels were non-compliant 41.9% of the time and 74.2% of non-compliant encounters occurred around killer whales across both years. The findings of the study demonstrate that case-specific investigation of compliance is necessary as each region is unique in its approach to management. Lastly, recommendations are proposed that can benefit marine managers and policymakers to enhance the performance of measures and subsequently minimize risk to cetaceans.
Download or read book A Model based Approach Investigating Killer Whale Orcinus Orca Exposure to Marine Vessel Engine Exhaust written by and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The summer habitat of the southern resident population of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in British Columbia and Washington experiences heavy traffic by vessels involved in whale-watching, sport fishing, other recreational activities, and shipping. Behavioural changes caused by vessel proximity and the impacts of vessel noise have been previously documented, but this is the first study to assess direct impacts of air pollutant emissions from vessel traffic. The concentration and composition of air pollutants from whale-watching vessels that southern resident killer whales are exposed to during the peak tourist season were estimated, as were the health impacts of the exposure. Specifically, the study a) estimated the output of airborne pollutants from the whale-watching fleet based on emissions data from regulatory agencies, b) estimated the vertical dispersion of such pollutants based on air stability data collected in the field and from climatological sources, c) used a dispersion model incorporating data on whale, vessel, and atmospheric behaviour to estimate exposure, and d) examined the likely physiological consequences of this exposure based on allometric extrapolation of data from other mammalian species. The results of these exercises indicate that the current whale-watching guidelines are usually effective in limiting pollutant exposure to levels just at or below those at which adverse health effects would be expected in killer whales. However, under worst-case conditions and even under certain average-case conditions the pollutant levels are much higher than those predicted to cause adverse health effects. With this information, recommendations are made for further studies that would fill in missing information, and increase confidence in the models, and the predicted impact on the southern resident killer whales. Recommendations for limiting killer whale exposure to air pollutants are also provided.
Download or read book Code on Noise Levels on Board Ships written by International Maritime Organization and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 76 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Code on noise levels on board ships has been developed to provide international standards for protection against noise under the provisions of regulation II-1/3-12 of the SOLAS Convention. The Code, adopted by resolution MSC.337(91), recognizes the need to establish mandatory noise level limits for machinery spaces, control rooms, workshops, accommodation and other spaces on board ships, and enters into force on 1 July 2014.The Code applies to new ships of a gross tonnage of 1,600 and above. The specific provisions relating to potentially hazardous noise levels, mitigation and personal protective gear contained in the Code may be applied to existing ships of a gross tonnage of 1,600 and above, as far as reasonable and practical, to the satisfaction of the Administration. The Code may be applied to new ships of a gross tonnage of less than 1,600 as far as reasonable and practical, to the satisfaction of the Administration. The Code includes: a format for noise survey reports; guidance on the inclusion of noise issues in safety management systems; - suggested methods of attenuating noise; and - a simplified procedure for determining noise exposure. These regulations, recommendations and advice are intended to provide Administrations with the tools to promote "hearing saving" environments on board ships. Although legally treated as a mandatory instrument under the SOLAS Convention, certain provisions of the Code remain recommendatory or informative.
Download or read book Environmental Impact of Ships written by Stephen de Mora and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2020-11-05 with total page 397 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive, global review of the impact ships have on the environment, covering pollutant discharges, non-pollutant impacts and international legislation.
Download or read book Cetacean Societies written by Janet Mann and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2000-06 with total page 462 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Part review, part testament to extraordinary dedication, and part call to get involved, Cetacean Societies highlights the achievements of behavioral ecologists inspired by the challenges of cetaceans and committed to the exploration of a new world."—from the preface by Richard Wrangham Long-lived, slow to reproduce, and often hidden beneath the water's surface, whales and dolphins (cetaceans) have remained elusive subjects for scientific study even though they have fascinated humans for centuries. Until recently, much of what we knew about cetaceans came from commercial sources such as whalers and trainers for dolphin acts. Innovative research methods and persistent efforts, however, have begun to penetrate the depths to reveal tantalizing glimpses of the lives of these mammals in their natural habitats. Cetacean Societies presents the first comprehensive synthesis and review of these new studies. Groups of chapters focus on the history of cetacean behavioral research and methodology; state-of-the-art reviews of information on four of the most-studied species: bottlenose dolphins, killer whales, sperm whales, and humpback whales; and summaries of major topics, including group living, male and female reproductive strategies, communication, and conservation drawn from comparative research on a wide range of species. Written by some of the world's leading cetacean scientists, this landmark volume will benefit not just students of cetology but also researchers in other areas of behavioral and conservation ecology as well as anyone with a serious interest in the world of whales and dolphins. Contributors are Robin Baird, Phillip Clapham, Jenny Christal, Richard Connor, Janet Mann, Andrew Read, Randall Reeves, Amy Samuels, Peter Tyack, Linda Weilgart, Hal Whitehead, Randall S. Wells, and Richard Wrangham.
Download or read book Marine Mammals and Noise written by W. John Richardson and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2013-10-22 with total page 593 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many marine mammals communicate by emitting sounds that pass through water. Such sounds can be received across great distances and can influence the behavior of these undersea creatures. In the past few decades, the oceans have become increasingly noisy, as underwater sounds from propellers, sonars, and other human activities make it difficult for marine mammals to communicate. This book discusses, among many other topics, just how well marine mammals hear, how noisy the oceans have become, and what effects these new sounds have on marine mammals. The baseline of ambient noise, the sounds produced by machines and mammals, the sensitivity of marine mammal hearing, and the reactions of marine mammals are also examined. An essential addition to any marine biologist's library, Marine Mammals and Noise will be especially appealing to marine mammalogists, researchers, policy makers and regulators, and marine biologists and oceanographers using sound in their research.
Download or read book Southern Resident Killer Whales Orcinus Orca written by Deborah A. Giles and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This dissertation concerns the southern resident killer whales (Orcinus orca), a genetically isolated population of fish-eating killer whales that frequent the international waters of the Salish Sea between the United States and Canada in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Research was conducted from June 1 to October 31, 2007 and from June 7 to October 31, 2008, between geographic coordinates: 48°12' to 49° N latitude by 122°43' to 123°50° W longitude. The southern resident killer whale population has experienced multiple fluctuations since population surveys were initiated by the Center for Whale Research (CWR) in the mid 1970's. In November 2005, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northwest Regional Office listed the southern resident killer whales as an endangered distinct population segment of the species Orcinus orca under the United States Endangered Species Act (ESA). Several risk factors including reductions in the quantity and quality of prey (salmon), exposure to persistent toxins, and disturbance from vessel presence and associated noise were identified as contributing to the decline of this already small population. With the listing under the ESA, critical habitat was designated in the inland waters around the U.S. San Juan Islands, Washington State and the Canadian Gulf Islands, British Columbia, Canada. Chapter one, Managing Vessel-based Killer Whale Watching: A Critical Assessment of the Evolution from Voluntary Guidelines to Regulations in the Salish Sea, provides background on the southern resident killer whales and the robust international whale watching industry in the region. This chapter also provides a detailed history of local, state, federal and international vessel laws and guidelines for watching whales in the Salish Sea. Chapter two, Non-invasive methods to study southern resident killer whales and vessel compliance with regulations, describes a novel equipment package, consisting of a differential GPS integrated with a digital compass and laser rangefinder that allowed me to collect accurate geo-referenced locations and behavioral data on whales and vessels throughout the whale's critical habitat. To improve both the spatial and temporal data on whale-vessel interactions, the information collected with this equipment was used to assess vessel compliance with local, state and federal laws and the regionally accepted best-practices Be Whale Wise Guidelines. Chapter three, The effects of vessels on group cohesion and behavior of southern resident killer whales (Orcinus orca), discusses research investigating changes in killer whale group cohesion in response to vessel density, distance and mode of operation. Future cetacean studies would benefit from using the equipment and methods presented here, especially in areas that are not conducive to land-based theodolite collected data.
Download or read book International Trade Noise Pollution and Killer Whales written by M. Scott Taylor and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Orcinus Orca is the world's largest predator, and simultaneously a significant tourist asset and cultural icon for much of the Pacific Northwest. In the past two decades, the Southern Resident Killer whale (SRKW) population has declined by more than 25 percent, putting them at risk of extinction. The cause of this decline is hotly debated. This paper employs novel data, an innovative noise pollution model, and quasi-experimental methods borrowed from environmental economics to solve this puzzle. We find consistent evidence that vessel noise pollution from international shipping has lowered fertility and raised the mortality of the SRKW significantly. Had noise pollution remained at its pre-1998 levels, the SRKW population would be 30% larger. Noise pollution is a growing threat to marine mammals worldwide.
Download or read book Protective Regulations for Killer Whales in Northwest Region Under Endangered Species ACT and Marine Mammal Protection ACT Us National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Regulation Noaa 2018 Edition written by The Law Library and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2019-01-04 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Law Library presents the complete text of the Protective Regulations for Killer Whales in Northwest Region under Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Regulation) (NOAA) (2018 Edition). Updated as of May 29, 2018 We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), establish regulations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to prohibit vessels from approaching killer whales within 200 yards (182.9 m) and from parking in the path of whales when in inland waters of Washington State. Certain vessels are exempt from the prohibitions. The purpose of this final rule is to protect killer whales from interference and noise associated with vessels. We identified disturbance and sound associated with vessels as a potential contributing factor in the recent decline of this population during the development of the final rule announcing the endangered listing of Southern Resident killer whales and the associated Recovery Plan for Southern Resident killer whales (Recovery Plan). The Recovery Plan calls for evaluating current guidelines and assessing the need for regulations and/or protected areas. To implement the actions in the Recovery Plan, we developed this final rule after considering comments submitted in response to an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) and proposed rule, and preparing an environmental assessment (EA). This final rule does not include a seasonal no-go zone for vessels along the west side of San Juan Island that was in the proposed rule. We will continue to collect information on a no-go zone for consideration in a future rulemaking. This ebook contains: - The complete text of the Protective Regulations for Killer Whales in Northwest Region under Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Regulation) (NOAA) (2018 Edition) - A dynamic table of content linking to each section - A table of contents in introduction presenting a general overview of the structure
