Understanding and managing underwater noise from vessel activities

• Main Authors: Sanders, Michelle, Pelton, Jeff
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Western CEDAR 2018
• Subjects: SRKW; Vessel noise; Fresh Water Studies; Life Sciences; Marine Biology; Natural Resources and Conservation; Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology; Canada; Beluga; Beluga*; Killer Whale; North Atlantic; North Atlantic right whale; Killer whale
• Online Access: https://cedar.wwu.edu/ssec/2018ssec/allsessions/545; https://cedar.wwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2980&context=ssec

Part B Presentation Topic: Understanding and Managing Underwater Noise from Vessel Activities. Abstract A complex mix of threats have resulted in nineteen of Canada’s whale populations being listed under the Species at Risk Act, including eight as endangered. Factors such as insufficient access to food, contaminants, and acoustic and physical disturbance – including vessel noise and vessel strikes - have contributed to population declines and hindered recovery, particularly for three of these endangered species - the Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW), the St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga, and the North Atlantic Right Whale. In November 2016, the Prime Minister of Canada launched the $1.5-billion Oceans Protection Plan (OPP), the largest investment ever made to protect Canada’s coasts and waterways, and placed a priority on protecting endangered and at-risk whale populations. Transport Canada, the regulator of Canadian vessels and vessels operating in Canadian waters, is responsible for ensuring a transportation system that is safe and secure, efficient and environmentally responsible. Transport Canada, in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is committed to addressing underwater noise from vessels. Collaboration is the cornerstone of programs and initiatives under the Oceans Protection Plan, and over the past several months, Transport Canada has been working in close collaboration with a diverse group of stakeholders to improve our understanding of the issues as we develop a strategy to address underwater noise from vessel activities. A combination of trials, research, expert input, consultation and modelling has been crucial to building Transport Canada’s understanding of underwater noise from vessels and the SRKW, and we will present key findings from our work. In so doing, we will emphasize the importance of collaborating nationally, regionally and internationally to more effectively address underwater vessel noise.