Skip to main content
WCS
Menu
Library
Library Catalog
eJournals & eBooks
WCS Research
Archives
Research Use
Finding Aids
Digital Collections
WCS History
WCS Research
Research Publications
Science Data
Services for WCS Researchers
Archives Shop
Bronx Zoo
Department of Tropical Research
Browse By Product
About Us
FAQs
Intern or Volunteer
Staff
Donate
Search WCS.org
Search
search
Popular Search Terms
WCS History
Library and Archives
Library and Archives Menu
Library
Archives
WCS Research
Archives Shop
About Us
Donate
en
fr
Title
Potential impacts of shipping noise on marine mammals in the western Canadian Arctic
Author(s)
Halliday, William D.;Insley, Stephen J.;Hilliard, R. Casey;de Jong, Tyler;Pine, Matthew K.
Published
2017
Publisher
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Published Version DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.09.027
Abstract
As the Arctic warms and sea ice decreases, increased shipping will lead to higher ambient noise levels in the Arctic Ocean. Arctic marine mammals are vulnerable to increased noise because they use sound to survive and likely evolved in a relatively quiet soundscape. We model vessel noise propagation in the proposed western Canadian Arctic shipping corridor in order to examine impacts on marine mammals and marine protected areas (MPAs). Our model predicts that loud vessels are audible underwater when > 100 km away, could affect marine mammal behaviour when within 2 km for icebreakers vessels, and as far as 52 km for tankers. This vessel noise could have substantial impacts on marine mammals during migration and in MPAs. We suggest that locating the corridor farther north, use of marine mammal observers on vessels, and the reduction of vessel speed would help to reduce this impact.
Keywords
Canadian Arctic;Bearded seal;Beluga whale;Bowhead whale;Ringed seal;Underwater noise
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the
WCS Library
to request.
Back
PUB22778