Pathways of Effects of Noise Associated with Aquaculture on Natural Marine Ecosystems in Canada
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C S A S S C C S Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Secrétariat canadien de consultation scientifique Research Document 2010/025 Document de recherche 2010/025 Pathways of effects of noise Séquences des effets du bruit causé par associated with aquaculture on l’aquaculture sur les écosystèmes natural marine ecosystems in Canada marins naturels au Canada Peter F. Olesiuk1, Jack W. Lawson2, and Edward A. Trippel3 1Marine Ecosystems and Aquaculture Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, BC, V9T 6N7 2Marine Mammal Section, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, St. John’s, NL, Canada A1C 5X1 3Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Biological Station, St. Andrews, NB, Canada E5B 2L9 This series documents the scientific basis for the La présente série documente les fondements evaluation of aquatic resources and ecosystems scientifiques des évaluations des ressources et in Canada. As such, it addresses the issues of des écosystèmes aquatiques du Canada. Elle the day in the time frames required and the traite des problèmes courants selon les documents it contains are not intended as échéanciers dictés. Les documents qu’elle definitive statements on the subjects addressed contient ne doivent pas être considérés comme but rather as progress reports on ongoing des énoncés définitifs sur les sujets traités, mais investigations. plutôt comme des rapports d’étape sur les études en cours. Research documents are produced in the official Les documents de recherche sont publiés dans language in which they are provided to the la langue officielle utilisée dans le manuscrit Secretariat. envoyé au Secrétariat. This document is available on the Internet at: Ce document est disponible sur l’Internet à: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas/ ISSN 1499-3848 (Printed / Imprimé) ISSN 1919-5044 (Online / En ligne) © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2012 © Sa Majesté la Reine du Chef du Canada, 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................................................V RÉSUMÉ......................................................................................................................................................VI 1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................1 1.1 OVERVIEW OF AQUACULTURE PRACTICES .................................................................................2 1.2 OVERVIEW OF NOISE PATHWAYS OF EFFECTS ..........................................................................2 1.3 SCOPE OF REVIEW...........................................................................................................................3 1.3.1. Activities Causing Noise.............................................................................................................3 1.3.2 Type/source of Information and Literature Used.........................................................................3 2. LINKAGES BETWEEN ACTIVITY, STRESSOR AND EFFECTS...........................................................5 2.1 SOUND SOURCE (STRESSOR)........................................................................................................5 2.1.1 Sound Intensity............................................................................................................................5 2.1.2 Pulsed Sounds ............................................................................................................................6 2.1.3 Sound Energy Levels ..................................................................................................................6 2.1.4 Frequency ...................................................................................................................................7 2.1.5 Particle Motion.............................................................................................................................7 2.2 SOUND PROPAGATION (EXPOSURE LEVELS)..............................................................................7 2.2.1 Spreading ....................................................................................................................................8 2.2.2 Absorption ...................................................................................................................................8 2.2.3 Scattering ....................................................................................................................................9 2.2.4 Reflection/Transmission..............................................................................................................9 2.2.5 Refraction and Ducting................................................................................................................9 2.3 POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF SOUND (RESPONSE)..........................................................................10 2.3.1 Audibility ....................................................................................................................................10 2.3.2 Masking .....................................................................................................................................12 2.3.3 Behavioural Responses ............................................................................................................13 2.3.4 Hearing Loss .............................................................................................................................14 2.3.5 Physical Injury and Mortality......................................................................................................14 2.4 EFFECTS OF MARINE MAMMAL DETERRENT DEVICES.............................................................16 2.4.1 Seal Bombs and Cracker Shells ...............................................................................................16 2.4.2 Acoustic Harassment Devices ..................................................................................................18 2.5 EFFECTS OF OPERATIONAL NOISE .............................................................................................23 2.5.1 Small Vessels............................................................................................................................23 2.5.2 Routine Operations ...................................................................................................................24 2.5.3 Construction and Demolition .....................................................................................................25 2.6 MITIGATION OF STRESSOR OR EFFECTS...................................................................................26 2.6.1. Elimination of Noise Sources ...................................................................................................26 2.6.2 Mitigation Measures to Minimize Noise Effects ........................................................................26 3. INTERACTION WITH OTHER STRESSORS ASSOCIATED WITH AQUACULTURE ........................27 4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS......................................................................................27 4.1 POE DIAGRAM.................................................................................................................................27 4.2 SUMMARY OF EFFECTS.................................................................................................................28 4.3 SUMMARY OF KNOWLEDGE GAPS AND RECOMMENDED RESEARCH ...................................29 5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................32 6. REFERENCES........................................................................................................................................33 iii iv Correct citation for this publication: La présente publication doit être citée comme suit : Olesiuk, P.F., J.W. Lawson, and E.A. Trippel. 2012. Pathways of effects of noise associated with aquaculture on natural marine ecosystems in Canada. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2010/025. vi + 64 p. ABSTRACT The purpose of this document is to examine the pathways of effects of noise associated with aquaculture on natural marine ecosystems in Canada. Aquaculture, like most maritime activities, generates sound as a by-product of ongoing operations, and sound may be associated with constructing, maintaining, and decommissioning aquaculture facilities. In some cases, intense sounds have been intentionally produced to deter predator (seal and sea lion) attacks. Water is an excellent medium for transmitting sound, which can propagate tens or even hundreds of kilometres from the sound source. Aquatic organisms utilize sound for communi- cation and foraging, and some species have their best hearing sensitivities within the dominant frequency ranges of sounds produced by aquaculture operations. The use of sound and hearing sensitivity is particularly advanced in marine mammals, which probably serve as good indicators of the potential effects of noise. Relatively loud sounds can potentially invoke behavioural responses and avoidance, interfere with or mask communication and echolocation signals, and cause temporary or permanent hearing loss. As a result, noise can displace animals from their habitat or interrupt normal movement or migration patterns, adversely affect foraging and reproductive behaviour,