Cetaceans and Naval Sonar: Behavioral Response as a Function of Sonar Frequency

• Main Author: Miller, Patrick
• Other Authors: SAINT ANDREWS UNIV (UNITED KINGDOM) GATTY MARINE LABORATORY
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: Biological Oceanography; Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; Acoustic Detection and Detectors; Marine Engineering; Naval Surface Warfare; Undersea and Antisubmarine Warfare; *MARINE BIOLOGY; *CETACEA; *SONAR; *OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA; *OCEAN ENVIRONMENTS; *MORTALITY RATE; *FREQUENCY; INSTRUCTIONS; RESPONSE(BIOLOGY); NORWAY; HABITATS; ENDANGERED SPECIES; NAVAL EQUIPMENT; LEGISLATION; BASINS(GEOGRAPHIC); SONAR SIGNALS; AQUATIC ANIMALS; OCEANOGRAPHY; WHALES; WASHINGTON(STATE); OVERLAP; BEHAVIOR; SAFETY; IMAGES; RESPONSE; PROFILES; UNITED KINGDOM; POPULATION; *KILLER WHALES; *ORCINUS ORCA; *SURTASSLFA(SURVEILLANCE TOWED ARRAY SENSOR SYSTEM LOW FREQUENCY ACTIVE); FOREIGN REPORTS; USS SHOUP VESSEL; VESTFJORD BASIN; HARO STRAIT; FESA(FEDERAL ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT); SURTASSLFA SONAR; FREE RANGING; FLOTEX; SMRU(SEA MAMMAL RESEARCH UNIT); IMR(INSTITUTE FOR MARINE RESEARCH); AUTEC(ATLANTIC UNDERSEA TEST AND EVALUATION CENTER); Haro; Norway; Vestfjord; Killer Whale; Orca; Orcinus orca; Killer whale
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA505653; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA505653

Data on the responsiveness of free-ranging cetaceans to mid-frequency sonar signals are lacking, with only a few species having been studied in relation to a few types of sonar signals, mostly SURTASSLFA. This specific project was initially motivated by observations of possible killer whale (Orcinus orca) reactions to sonars, in the Vestfjord basin of Norway and the USS Shoup incident in Haro Strait in Washington State (NMFS-NOAA report, 2005). While those incidents have not led to observation of strandings or direct mortality, the perceived behavioral changes in response to sonar have negatively impacted the public image of the Navies involved, and may have harmed the stakeholder community that works with killer whales. The high public profile of killer whales and the overlap of their habitats with operational areas make it likely that incidents will continue to occur worldwide. The killer whale population involved in the USS Shoup incident has been listed as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act, which increases the importance of establishing safe guidelines for sonar operations in killer whale habitat.