Calibrating and monitoring the western gray whale mitigation zone and estimating acoustic transmission during a 3D seismic survey, Sakhalin Island, Russia

A 3D marine seismic survey of the Odoptu license area off northeastern Sakhalin Island, Russia, was conducted by DalMorNefteGeofizika (DMNG) on behalf of Exxon Neftegas Limited and the Sakhalin-1 consortium during mid-August through early September 2001. The key environmental issue identified in an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Main Authors: Rutenko, A. N., Borisov, S. V., Gritsenko, A. V., Jenkerson, M. R.
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: Springer Netherlands 2007
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2798049
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17762974
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9814-z
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Summary:A 3D marine seismic survey of the Odoptu license area off northeastern Sakhalin Island, Russia, was conducted by DalMorNefteGeofizika (DMNG) on behalf of Exxon Neftegas Limited and the Sakhalin-1 consortium during mid-August through early September 2001. The key environmental issue identified in an environmental impact assessment was protection of the critically endangered western gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), which spends the summer–fall open water period feeding off northeast Sakhalin Island in close proximity to the seismic survey area. Seismic mitigation and monitoring guidelines and recommendations were developed and implemented to reduce impacts on the feeding activity of western gray whales. Results of the acoustic monitoring program indicated that the noise monitoring and mitigation program was successful in reducing exposure of feeding western gray whales to seismic noise.