Seismic Seas: Wild Migration releases Technical and Policy Review #3

19th December 2013

Wild Migration releases Technical and Policy Review #3 - Seismic Seas: Understanding the impact of offshore seismic petroleum exploration surveys on marine species

The sea is the interconnected system of all the Earth's oceanic waters, including the five named ‘oceans’ - the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Southern and Arctic Oceans - a connected body of salty water that covers over 70 percent of the Earth's surface. This sea is also the focus of eleven CMS agreements covering seabirds, marine turtle, sharks, seals, whales and dolphins.

Acoustic energy (sound) is a new threat to this shared realm and sound is not easily contained - travelling fast and potentially over great distances. One generator of this sound is the offshore petroleum exploration industry.

Lead author and Wild Migration Technical Director, Geoff Prideaux, said "The complexities of sound in water and air gun design mean that simple generalizations about sound transmission are not appropriate.

Environmental Impact Assessments around the world should require the characteristics of the specific survey as well as detailed modelling of probable noise propagation in the area to be surveyed. This can only be achieved by industry providing the specifics about the actual air guns to be used."

The Review proposes a model for Environmental Impact Assessments that can be used by regulators and industry alike to provide enough transparent information and ensure natural justice.

Wild Migration urges regulators and policy makers to consider requiring this level of transparency and technical detail.

Support for this project is generously provided by the Purves Environmental Fund.

The Purves Environmental Fund’s vision is an environmentally sustainable world in which biodiversity is preserved.

Wild Migration is grateful for the Fund's support.