How low can you go? Exploring impact of drones on haul out behaviour of harbour - and grey seals

IntroductionDrones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), have emerged as valuable tools for wildlife monitoring, offering potentially non-intrusive observations in challenging terrains like marine ecosystems. Despite their potential, widespread use is impeded by regulatory constraints, especially in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in Marine Science
Main Authors: Emilie Nicoline Stepien, Jibran Khan, Anders Galatius, Jonas Teilmann
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024
Subjects:
Phoca vitulina
Halichoerus grypus
UAV
Wadden Sea
flight altitude
disturbance
Science
Q
General. Including nature conservation
geographical distribution
QH1-199.5
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1411292
https://doaj.org/article/d657f4781bf847999df8d4640e8ecc72
Description
Summary:IntroductionDrones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), have emerged as valuable tools for wildlife monitoring, offering potentially non-intrusive observations in challenging terrains like marine ecosystems. Despite their potential, widespread use is impeded by regulatory constraints, especially in protected areas. MethodsThis study aims to assess the impact of varying flight altitudes and flight approaches of two commercial drones on the behaviour of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and compare to existing findings for marine mammals. We conducted a comparative analysis of the response to flight altitude from 70 m gradually descending to 10 m and two different flight approaches between the DJI Phantom 4Pro and the Autel EVO II RTK drones in the Danish part of the Wadden Sea.ResultsWe found varying responses, where species-specific sensitivity and environmental conditions appeared to influence the behavioural reactions of the seals. Our results reveal that seal reactions to drones are complex and depend on several factors, such as flight altitude, drone model, received noise levels, approach, weather conditions, the animals’ annual cycle, and geographic location. DiscussionThe outcomes hold significance for refining regulatory policies governing drone flights in protected marine environments, balancing conservation efforts with technological advancements in wildlife monitoring and ensuring undisturbed observations of seals.

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