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    Seals and shipping noise in a dynamic sea: seasonal changes in shipping noise exposure experienced by diving seals Chen, F.1, Shapiro, G.1, Bennett, K.1, Ingram, S.N.1, Thompson, D.2, Vincent, C.3, Russell, D.2, & Embling, C.B.1 1. School of Marine Science and Engineering, Plymouth University, Plymouth, PL4 8AA 2. Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB 3. Université de La Rochelle, Avenue Michel Crepeau, 17042 La Rochelle Cedex, France Email: clare.embling@plymouth.ac.uk Shipping noise is a major contributor to anthropogenic noise in the sea, which is now classed as pollution in accordance with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). However, we know little about how it impacts marine organisms. In this study we investigate potential shipping noise experienced by grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Celtic Sea by overlaying their GPS tracks and dive data, over a state-of-the-art ocean (POLCOMS) and acoustic (HARCAM) propagation model populated with real-time AIS shipping data in summer and winter. Our results show a clear influence of the seasonal thermocline (April-November) on shipping noise propagation. In summer the areas of high noise exposure were situated below the thermocline when the ship was located on the onshore side of oceanic fronts, and above the thermocline when the ship was on the offshore side of oceanic fronts. The difference in sound level between the top and bottom of the water column was as high as ~20dB. Shipping noise propagated much further (tens of kilometres) in winter than in summer. Furthermore, our study shows strong step changes of sound perceived by seals during their descent/ascent through water column. Since grey seals tend to be benthic foragers, the step-change in sound exposure may have negative impacts on their foraging behaviour. It is only through a more realistic understanding of exposure of animals to ship noise that we can set appropriate management and mitigation targets.

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    Seals and shipping noise in a dynamic sea: seasonal changes in shipping noise exposure experienced by diving seals Chen, F.1, Shapiro, G.1, Bennett, K.1, Ingram, S.N.1, Thompson, D.2, Vincent, C.3, Russell, D.2, & Embling, C.B.1 1. School of Marine Science and Engineering, Plymouth University, Plymouth, PL4 8AA 2. Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB 3. Université de La Rochelle, Avenue Michel Crepeau, 17042 La Rochelle Cedex, France Email: clare.embling@plymouth.ac.uk Shipping noise is a major contributor to anthropogenic noise in the sea, which is now classed as pollution in accordance with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). However, we know little about how it impacts marine organisms. In this study we investigate potential shipping noise experienced by grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Celtic Sea by overlaying their GPS tracks and dive data, over a state-of-the-art ocean (POLCOMS) and acoustic (HARCAM) propagation model populated with real-time AIS shipping data in summer and winter. Our results show a clear influence of the seasonal thermocline (April-November) on shipping noise propagation. In summer the areas of high noise exposure were situated below the thermocline when the ship was located on the onshore side of oceanic fronts, and above the thermocline when the ship was on the offshore side of oceanic fronts. The difference in sound level between the top and bottom of the water column was as high as ~20dB. Shipping noise propagated much further (tens of kilometres) in winter than in summer. Furthermore, our study shows strong step changes of sound perceived by seals during their descent/ascent through water column. Since grey seals tend to be benthic foragers, the step-change in sound exposure may have negative impacts on their foraging behaviour. It is only through a more realistic understanding of exposure of animals to ship noise that we can set appropriate management and mitigation targets.

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    Clare Embling 2015 Seals & Shipping Noise

    Uploaded by

    Coastal Futures
    Seals and shipping noise in a dynamic sea: seasonal changes in shipping noise exposure experienced by diving seals Chen, F.1, Shapiro, G.1, Bennett, K.1, Ingram, S.N.1, Thompson, D.2, Vincent, C.3, Russell, D.2, & Embling, C.B.1 1. School of Marine Science and Engineering, Plymouth University, Plymouth, PL4 8AA 2. Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB 3. Université de La Rochelle, Avenue Michel Crepeau, 17042 La Rochelle Cedex, France Email: clare.embling@plymouth.ac.uk Shipping noise is a major contributor to anthropogenic noise in the sea, which is now classed as pollution in accordance with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). However, we know little about how it impacts marine organisms. In this study we investigate potential shipping noise experienced by grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Celtic Sea by overlaying their GPS tracks and dive data, over a state-of-the-art ocean (POLCOMS) and acoustic (HARCAM) propagation model populated with real-time AIS shipping data in summer and winter. Our results show a clear influence of the seasonal thermocline (April-November) on shipping noise propagation. In summer the areas of high noise exposure were situated below the thermocline when the ship was located on the onshore side of oceanic fronts, and above the thermocline when the ship was on the offshore side of oceanic fronts. The difference in sound level between the top and bottom of the water column was as high as ~20dB. Shipping noise propagated much further (tens of kilometres) in winter than in summer. Furthermore, our study shows strong step changes of sound perceived by seals during their descent/ascent through water column. Since grey seals tend to be benthic foragers, the step-change in sound exposure may have negative impacts on their foraging behaviour. It is only through a more realistic understanding of exposure of animals to ship noise that we can set appropriate management and mitigation targets.

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    of 18

    Seals and shipping noise in a dynamic sea:

    seasonal changes in shipping noise exposure


    experienced by diving seals
    Chen F., Shapiro G., Bennett K.A., Ingram S.N., Thompson D.,
    Vincent C., Russell D., Embling C.B.
    feng.chen@plymouth.ac.uk
    clare.embling@plymouth.ac.uk
    @ClareEmbling
    @MarineVerts

    Introduction
    Shipping noise
    Increasing continuously
    A major contributor to ocean noise
    Low frequency (10-1000Hz)
    Detrimental effects on animals

    Legislation of shipping noise


    European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)
    International Marine Organisation (IMO)
    International Whaling Commission (IWC)

    Aims and objectives


    To examine how oceanic processes affect noise
    propagation
    Summer and winter (stratified vs non-stratified)
    Location of ship (onshore and offshore side of front)

    To predict potential noise exposure by diving


    seals in 3D
    Moving source (ship)
    Moving receiver (seal)

    Modelling system
    Ocean modelling: POLCOMS

    Sediments

    Temperature
    Salinity

    Propagation modelling: HARCAM


    Transmission
    loss (dB)

    Real-time shipping AIS data


    Position, size
    and speed

    Seal diving data

    Sound
    Exposure

    Species
    Grey Seal
    ~45% in UK
    Able to hear noise
    Benthic forager
    Diving data
    GPS tags
    SW Wales

    Courtesy of Bennett K.A.

    Sound frequency relationship between animal and ship


    (B. Southall, NMFS/NOAA)

    Shipping density in UK

    Map of shipping density around UK waters plotted by using ShipAIS


    (Shipping Automatic Identification System) data (BMT, 2013)

    Study area
    Wales

    The Celtic Sea


    Shallow
    B

    Strong stratification
    Temperature fronts

    High shipping density


    Ship track

    Transect

    Locations of
    the ship

    Temperature and Transmission Loss of transect A


    Summer

    Winter

    Locations of the ship

    Temperature and Transmission Loss of transect B


    Summer

    Winter

    Locations of the ship

    Cumulative Sound Exposure Level (SEL)


    SEL at a water depth of 50m
    Summer

    Winter

    Diving profiles of a pup seal in 3D


    2D view

    Seal

    Ship

    3D view

    Received level by a pup seal along diving path

    Received level by a pup seal along diving path

    Bottom
    Bottom
    frontfront

    Discussion and Conclusion


    Oceanic processes (e.g. stratification and fronts) have
    strong effects on noise propagation
    High interactions with shipping noise
    Benthic foragers
    Able to travel large distance

    Step changes in the sound level are frequent while


    foraging, which may have negative effects on grey seals
    How do grey seals respond to such step change of sound?
    Path changes
    Changes in diving
    Relate changes to sound level

    Thank you for your attention !

    Pup

    Adult

    Input TS
    Water column data: section 189
    1. Observational data

    2. Modelled data

    Scanfish temperature data collected in the


    Celtic Sea in Aug 1998 (Brown et al., 2003)

    Fully 3D predicted temperature data

    Mean error: -0.17C

    RMSe: 0.83

    Willmott skill (0 - 1): 0.97


    Chen et al., 2013

    Input TS
    Water column data: section 202
    1. Observational data

    2. Modelled data

    Scanfish temperature data collected in the


    Celtic Sea in Sep 1998 (Brown et al., 2003)

    Fully 3D predicted temperature data

    Mean error: -0.35C

    RMSe: 0.53

    Willmott skill (0 - 1): 0.98


    Chen et al., 2013

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