Managing vessel-generated underwater noise to reduce acoustic impacts to killer whales

Abstract

Launched in 2014, the Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program, led by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, is a regional, collaborative program designed to better understand and reduce the cumulative effects from commercial shipping activities on at-risk whales. The program advances a number of research projects and operational initiatives, with a key focus on reduction of vessel-generated underwater noise to support recovery of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW). To reduce vessel noise in key killer whale habitat, the ECHO Program manages seasonal voluntary slowdowns of large commercial traffic and lateral displacement of inshore traffic, and advances projects to better characterize vessel-generated noise. Determining the efficacy of vessel noise reduction efforts requires careful consideration of confounding factors to assess acoustic reductions, and estimate the resulting benefits to SRKW. This presentation will highlight results of noise mitigation efforts conducted to date, and identify some of the technical challenges faced in the acoustic analysis, including decisions on data filtering techniques. Methods used by the ECHO Program for evaluating potential effects of noise exposure on killer whale behavior and foraging will also be discussed.