Public Reports & Articles
SIMRES Acoustic Data Hydroacoustic Measurements: Marine Mammal Detections from February to December 2020 off Monarch Head and East Point, Saturna Island, BC
December 2021 — British Columbia, Canada
Client: Transport Canada Innovation Centre
An analysis of 10 months of underwater sound recordings obtained by the Saturna Island Marine Research and Education Society at two locations in Boundary Pass. JASCO’s automated marine mammal detectors for killer whales, humpback whales, and Pacific white-sided dolphins were applied to the data. This study contributes important information on the occurrence of several species in the Boundary Pass for ongoing research required to investigate factors driving the distributions of marine mammals, specifically Southern Resident killer whales.
SIMRES Ambient Noise: Observed Differences in the Underwater Noise Soundscape Before and After Implementing the 2019 and 2020 Saturna Island Interim Sanctuary Zones
December 2021 — British Columbia, Canada
Client: Transport Canada Innovation Centre
An analysis of underwater ambient noise levels from recordings previously collected at two locations in Boundary Pass over a three-year period to compare differences in the underwater soundscape before and after implementing the 2019 and 2020 Saturna Island Interim Sanctuary Zones. Vessel traffic was prohibited within the Zones to reduce acoustic and physical disturbance from vessels in Southern Resident killer whale foraging areas.
Salish Sea Ambient Noise Study: Best Practices (2021)
2021 — British Columbia, Canada
Client: Port of Vancouver
Utilizing two years of data from three different, cabled inshore hydrophone stations in the Salish Sea, this high-level review, led by Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, aims to help understand and address key environmental and anthropogenic factors that contribute to ambient noise. Contributions from: the hydrophone system and ancillary equipment; rain, wind and tidal currents; factors affecting sound propagation; biological presence; and vessel traffic are considered in this study, and “best practice” recommendations for undertaking standardized long-term noise assessment are provided.
Flemish Pass Acoustic Monitoring: Ambient Characterization and Marine Mammal Monitoring near a Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit
December 2021 — Newfoundland, Canada
Client: Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions
December 2021 — Newfoundland, Canada
Client: Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions
An acoustic monitoring study to measure the acoustic signature of the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) Stena Forth, a dynamically-positioned ultradeep-water drillship, at the Pelles A-71 exploration well. The results are compared to modelled predictions. Baseline sound levels were measured as well as marine mammal presence and changes to the baseline resulting from the Pelles drilling program.
Galactic Hybrid 2D MSS Environment Plan—Acoustic Modelling
September 2021 — Northern Australia
Client: Woodside Energy Ltd.
Appendix I – Acoustic Modelling for Assessing Marine Fauna Sound Exposures
A numerical modelling study of underwater sound levels associated with the planned marine seismic survey to assist in understanding the potential acoustic impact on receptors including marine mammals, fish, sea turtles, and invertebrates. Three seismic airgun array sources were modelled conducting 2D and 3D surveys in the Bonaparte Basin, and three of JASCO’s sound propagation models were used in combination to characterise the acoustic fields at short and long ranges at frequencies between 5 Hz and 25 kHz.
Mayflower Wind: Underwater Acoustic Modeling of Construction Sound and Animal Exposure Estimation
August 2021 — Massachusetts, United States
Client: AECOM
As part of Mayflower Wind Energy’s Construction and Operations Plan, JASCO modeled the potential underwater acoustic effects resulting from piling scenarios for both monopile and jacket foundations that will be used in the construction of Mayflower Wind’s 2,400 MW offshore wind farm. JASCO’s Animal Simulation Model Including Noise Exposure (JASMINE) was used to predict sound exposure to potentially affected marine fauna, including marine mammals, sea turtles, and fish.
Assessment of Vessel Noise within the Southern Resident Killer Whale Interim Sanctuary Zones
August 2021 — British Columbia, Canada
Client: Transport Canada Innovation Centre
A modelling study to quantify monthly average vessel noise (Jun–Oct 2019) both with and without the implementation of Interim Sanctuary Zones around Saturna and Pender Islands to estimate their effectiveness in reducing vessel noise levels in Southern Resident killer whale foraging areas. Results from JASCO’s cumulative noise model show that the mitigation approach would result in a decrease of unweighted noise levels by, on average, 0.5 (±0.4) dB within the Saturna Island Interim Sanctuary Zone and 3.0 (±1.0) dB within the Pender Island Interim Sanctuary Zone.
Assessing Sonar Sound Levels from Commercial Ships
August 2021 — British Columbia, Canada
Client: Transport Canada Innovation Centre
A study of the occurrence of sonar sounds in acoustic data recorded in Georgia Strait and Boundary Pass up to October 2019. Sonars were detected in 1.3% of the vessel passages. The echosounders were downward-facing and highly directional, so their sounds were generally only audible for 2–5 minutes during a vessel passage. In contrast, the non-directional, continuous ultrasonic source (18–26 kHz) was audible 4–6 km from the vessel. High-frequency cetaceans within 1 km of such a vessel are likely to experience temporary hearing threshold shifts, and Southern Resident killer whales have greatly reduced echolocation ranges for 15–20 minutes during the vessel passage. A key recommendation: identify this continuous ultrasonic source and prohibit its use in Canadian waters.
Underwater Acoustic Monitoring: Baffinland Iron Mines Shoulder Season Shipping 2019–2020
August 2021 — Nunavut, Canada
Client: Golder Associates, Ltd.
JASCO recorded underwater sound at two locations along a shipping route associated with Baffinland Iron Mine’s Mary River Mine on Baffin Island to measure noise levels from the icebreaker MSV Botnica. Noise was analyzed for 17 one-way transits, including those in open-water and in ice-covered conditions with ice concentrations between 0/10 and 9/10. For each transit, two standard metrics of vessel noise emissions were determined—underwater radiated noise levels and monopole source levels—as well as the distance at which sound levels exceeded the threshold for marine mammal behavioural disturbance from shipping.
Protecting Killer Whales in Salish Sea: Cabled Underwater Listening Station Monitors Ship Noise
July 2021
Featured in: Sea Technology magazine
The Salish Sea sees more than 12,000 large merchant ship transits and over 300,000 ferry crossings. These busy waters are also home to over 37 species of marine mammals, including the endangered Southern Resident killer whale. JASCO was contracted by Transport Canada to develop, deploy and operate a $9.5 million cabled observatory, with 3 main goals: (1) systematically measure underwater noise emissions of the large commercial vessels calling ports in southern BC; (2) detect and localize/track vocalizing cetaceans; and (3) document the underwater noise environment over many years.
Contributed by JASCO’s Nicole Chorney, Jack Hennessey, and David Hannay.
Geographe Subsea Installation & Commissioning: Acoustic Monitoring and Updated Modelling
June 2021 — Southern Australia
Client: Beach Energy Ltd
Appendix 7 – Sound Transmission Loss Modelling Report (Updated)
Appendix 8 – Beach Otway Development Acoustic Monitoring
Underwater sound monitoring and acoustic characterisation of drilling activities by the Ocean Onyx Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) and of associated support vessels at the offshore natural gas fields of the Otway Basin. Four AMARs in C-Lander moorings were deployed at increasing distances from the MODU. The results were compared against the previously modelled sound field predictions from the draft Environment Plan. The findings provided a better understanding of the propagation loss environment, enabling a recalculation/update of the modelled scenarios to provide more accurate distances to acoustic thresholds for impacts to marine mammals.
Acoustic Monitoring for Eastern Newfoundland Offshore Exploration Drilling Project
May 2021 —Newfoundland, Canada
Client: Wood PLC
Acoustic monitoring and analysis providing soundscape characterization, marine mammal occurrence, and potential effects of underwater noise emissions on cetaceans as part of the overall environmental effects monitoring program. Characterizes the sounds produced by a Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) and provides insight into the effects on marine life including auditory injury as well as possible displacement and masking of communications.
Annual Reports of Boundary Pass Acoustic Monitoring
2018-Present — British Columbia, Canada
Client: Port of Vancouver
2021: Year 2 Report (October 2019 to December 2020)
2020: Year 1 Report (October 2018 to October 2019)
Analysis of the large underwater acoustic data set acquired by the Boundary Pass Underwater Listening Station (ULS), deployed by JASCO in southern British Columbia. In June 2020, the two cabled underwater hydrophone arrays replaced autonomous AMARs deployed since October 2018.
Funded by the Port of Vancouver’s ECHO Program.
By Air and by Sea – Novel Mobile Platforms Bring Acoustic Monitoring to Offshore Wind Farms
May 2021
Featured in: ON&T magazine (Ocean News & Technology)
“The construction and operation of offshore wind farms carries regulatory requirements for acoustic monitoring of both noise emissions from the activity and marine mammals’ vocalizations. The latter reveal the presence of animals that could be at risk from noise exposure or collision with service ships. Such requirements call for innovative monitoring technologies capable of rapid deployment, efficient relocation, and wide area coverage. Autonomous marine vehicles equipped with advanced acoustic receptors, on-board processing, and long-range telemetry are the clear future of this sector. Viable carrier designs include underwater, surface, and even airborne vehicles with water landing capacity; any of these can deploy a single or several hydrophones to sample sound levels in the water.”
Contributed by JASCO’s Roberto Racca.
Feasibility study: vessel-based Hector’s dolphin acoustic monitoring systems
April 2021 — New Zealand
Client: Fisheries New Zealand
A feasibility assessment and desktop design of a passive acoustic monitoring system to detect and track the location of Hector’s dolphins to determine if they are interacting with bottom trawl fishing nets. Using theoretical simulations, the study examines different array and localisation tracking concepts, possible detection ranges, and installation locations for hydrophones. Recommendations are made for pursuing field trials to obtain baseline data in advance of testing various acoustic mitigation measures, including dolphin deterrent devices, to reduce entanglement risks to dolphins.
ESRF Study | Potential Risks of Seismic Surveys to Snow Crab Resources
February 2021 — Newfoundland and Labrador
An Environmental Studies Research Fund project
Part of ESRF Project 2014-01S, this DFO-led report examines effects of seismic exploration on snow crab catch rates, movement, physiology, and genomic response, to address concerns by snow crab harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador. Field experiments were conducted over four consecutive summers in areas affected by seismic surveying and unaffected areas as a control, in offshore commercial snow crab fishing grounds. The study concludes that, based on factors considered by the experiments, impacts of seismic surveying on commercial snow crab are within the range of natural variability. The results are being used to provide science-based management advice to regulators, interested and affected industries, and the public.
ECHO Program | Vessel Noise Correlations Studies
January 2021 — British Columbia, Canada
Client: Port of Vancouver
Phase 2 Report (January 2021)
Phase 1 Report (May 2020)
A two-part study for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority ECHO Program analyzing the statistical correlations between vessel design characteristics and underwater radiated noise levels, to determine design or operational characteristics that may be correlated with louder or quieter sound levels.
Phase 1 of the study analyzed data collected from Haro Strait and the Strait of Georgia between 2015-2018. Phase 2 expanded to include: data collected by JASCO’s Boundary Pass Underwater Listening Station from 2018-2020; more detailed ship characteristics for a subset of vessels; and analysis of the variability in underwater radiated noise levels for repeat passes of the same ship.
A collaboration with ERM and Acentech.
Roberts Bank Terminal 2, Port of Vancouver
2014-2021 — British Columbia, Canada
Clients: Port of Vancouver, Hemmera, Ecofish Research Ltd.
2014-2021 — British Columbia, Canada
Clients: Port of Vancouver, Hemmera, Ecofish Research Ltd.
2021: Underwater Noise Modelling of RBT2 Construction to Inform Mitigation
2019: Mercator Projections Underwater Noise Modelling Update
2014:
• Ambient Underwater Noise Measurements Report
• Ship Sound Signature Analysis Study Report
• Construction Activities and Terminal Vessel Operations Noise Modelling Study Report
Measurement, analysis, and modelling studies to understand existing conditions at Roberts Bank and to assess project-related underwater noise effects as part of the environmental assessment for the construction of an additional container terminal in Delta, BC.