Seismic Airguns at Long Range: The Potential for Behavioral Change in Marine Mammals

Man-made or anthropogenic noise generated by seismic survey is of concern in marine environmental circles as a possible cause of damage and behavioral disturbance to marine mammals. Equipment devised to allow acoustic noise monitoring during long-line fishing in the southern Atlantic Ocean is described. In particular, unusual acoustic signatures, which may be ascribed to seismic survey activities many hundreds of miles from the fishing area are reported. The reasons for the curious nature of these signatures are discussed and their potential impact on migrating whales is examined.