Killer Whale, Salmon, And Herring Responses to Vessel Noise: Mapping and Management Priorities

Led by Isabelle Côté, Simon Fraser University
Collaborators include NOAA, University of Victoria, Dalhousie University, Cornell University, Simon Fraser University, Dept. of National Defense, World Wildlife Fund, Fisheries andOceans Canada, University of Florida

This project tackles the threat of underwater noise pollution in the Salish Sea by addressing data limitations on the prevalence of noise pollution, impacts on marine species, and a coherent risk management strategy. Specifically, the researchers propose to integrate underwater noise pollution maps with vessel noise dose-response curves for three culturally, economically, and ecologically important taxa: resident killer whales, Pacific salmon, and Pacific herring. Merging vessel noise maps and dose-response thresholds will identify locations where noise pollution exceeds species thresholds, the potential ecological impacts, and the primary polluters.

They will develop a strategy-to-regulation action plan by examining the political implications of results given the current state of the Canadian and American Ocean Noise Strategies, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the American Endangered Species Act, and the Canadian Species at Risk Act.