Pingers effect on humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) behavior

• Main Author: Charlotte Neumann 1985-
• Other Authors: Háskóli Íslands
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Líffræði; Biology; Humpback Whale; Iceland; Megaptera novaeangliae
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/29667

Anthropogenic activities including sounds and the use of various equipment pose a threat to the marine animals. Disturbance from underwater construction, sonars and echo sounders has impacted fish and marine mammals. Whale entanglements in fishing gear has become more frequent and is gradually posing a larger threat. The aim of this study was to test if the behavior of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Skjálfandí bay (Iceland) was impacted by the use of pingers. The target behavioural traits were diving patterns, breathing rate and feeding. In this study, two pingers (whale pinger, frequency 3 kHz and sealscarer, frequency 14.5 kHz) were tested at 5 m depth on 6 individual humpback whales (3 for each pinger). The behavior of the whale was studied from a boat using a video camera and direct observations. The behaviour of each whale was noted before (pre-trial), during (pinger-trial) and after (post-trial) the use of the pinger. A change in the behavior of the whales was observed including a 17.8 % decrease in the mean diving time, a 4.4 % decrease in mean breathing rate and a 54.6 % decrease in feeding rates between the pre-trial and pinger-trial. This indicates that the whales were affected by the pingers. Further studies supported by larger sample sizes are required to evaluate the use of pingers to keep whales away from certain areas and fishing gears.