Public Reports & Articles
Studies for ExxonMobil Eastern Newfoundland Offshore Exploration Drilling Project
December 2017 — Newfoundland, Canada
Clients: Stantec, Statoil Canada
Qualitative Assessment of Radiated Sound Levels and Acoustic Propagation Conditions (32 p)
Predictions of underwater sound levels from drill rigs (semisubmersibles and drill ships), dynamic positioning (DP) systems, support vessels, and a vertical seismic profiler (VSP) for two exploration drilling programs.
Marine Mammals and Ambient Sound Sources: Analysis from 2014 and 2015 Acoustic Recordings (56 p)
Acoustic recordings were acquired in Flemish Pass and analyzed to characterize the baseline soundscape, the presence of marine mammals, and the soundscape during Statoil’s 2014-2016 drilling program.
Great Barrier Reef Underwater Noise Guidelines: Discussion and Options Paper
August 2017 — Queensland, Australia
Client: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
A discussion and options paper for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority of the Australian Government to inform the process of developing a guideline for considering and managing the impacts of anthropogenic underwater noise on the Great Barrier Reef’s marine fauna.
Acoustic Modeling Study: Underwater Sound Levels from Marine Pile Driving in Southeast Alaska
July 2017 — Alaska, United States
Client: Alaska Department of Transportation
A modelling study of vibratory and impact pile driving at four locations in Southeast Alaska (Auke Bay, Kake, Ketchikan, and Kodiak ferry terminals). The model results were validated against empirical measurements at the same sites, during ferry terminal improvement construction projects in 2015 and 2016.
City of Kingston Third Crossing of the Cataraqui River: Preliminary Design Summary Report
June 2017 — Ontario, Canada
Clients: Golder Associates Ltd., City of Kingston
Appendix M – In-Air Noise Impact Assessment Report for Birds and Reptiles
Appendix N – Underwater Noise Modelling of Impact Pile Driving
In-air and underwater noise modelling studies for Golder Associates Ltd. on behalf of the City of Kingston in preparation for bridge construction. The in-air study assessed the potential impacts on birds and reptiles from traffic noise and pile driving noise, which considered pile driving equipment characteristics, land elevation, atmospheric data, and ground type. The underwater study assessed potential impacts of pile driving noise on fish, turtles, fish eggs, and fish larvae and considered effects of pile driving equipment characteristics, bathymetry, water sound speed, and riverbed sediment composition.
Proposed Metrics for the Management of Underwater Noise for Southern Resident Killer Whales
May 2017 — British Columbia, Canada
May 2017 — British Columbia, Canada
Part of the Coastal Ocean Report Series, which “presents scientific summaries and practical recommendations to decision-makers, stakeholders, and the public based on the best available science. The Reports represent the work of experts from different disciplines, locations, and affiliations who come together in an atmosphere of cooperation and reason to focus on a specific topic or geographic area for a limited amount of time.”
“Experts were convened by the Coastal Ocean Research Institute (CORI) in Vancouver, Canada. CORI was established by Ocean Wise to produce and communicate scientific knowledge and understanding in service of protecting aquatic life and habitats, informing responsible human activity, and safeguarding communities.”
Authors include JASCO’s David Hannay, Chief Science Officer, and Harald Yurk, Behavioural Ecologist and Bioacoustician.
Shelburne Basin Venture Exploration Drilling Project: Sound Source Characterization, 2016 Field Measurements of the Stena IceMAX
April 2017 — Nova Scotia, Canada
Client: Shell Canada
A sound source characterization study for Shell Canada to comply with regulatory conditions issued under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act for exploratory drilling 250 km off the coast of Nova Scotia. JASCO measured and analyzed underwater sound from support vessels and the Stena IceMAX, including mechanical and vibration sound, thruster cavitation from dynamic positioning, and direct drilling sound, to verify the noise levels predicted during the environmental assessment. Results from opportunistic measurements are also provided, which were captured by another JASCO recorder that happened to be deployed nearby for an unrelated project.
ECHO Analysis of Regional Ocean Noise Contributors
January 2017 — British Columbia, Canada
Client: Port of Vancouver
A modelling study for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) program to better understand the contributions of various vessel types to underwater noise throughout the Salish Sea, which is important habitat for marine mammals including endangered Southern Resident killer whales. Updates to JASCO’s existing regional ocean noise contributors model based on Automated Identification System (AIS) data yielded cumulative noise maps for various sub-regions of the Salish Sea. The ECHO program is using the study results to inform management efforts and develop vessel noise reduction solutions appropriate to the vessel types and sub-regions.