Abstract
Potential impacts on aquatic life associated with anthropogenic underwater noise are an emerging concern worldwide (Popper et al. 2005). In the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada, there has been an increased interest in natural resources development and the potential for impacts to both marine and freshwater areas. Fish (including marine mammals and other aquatic life) and their habitats are managed by Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) under the federal Fisheries Act and the Oceans Act. The DFO reviews project proposals, assesses potential impacts, provides scientific and regulatory advice based on the current state of knowledge, identifies existing data gaps, and initiates steps to address them. If residual impacts are expected with mitigative measures in place, the DFO is able to account for and authorize impacts under the Fisheries Act. Here we identify the types of noise-related impacts that are pertinent to the species and industry activities in the NWT and how these concerns are being addressed by the DFO.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (2009) Satellite tracking of Western Arctic bowhead whales. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau, AK. Available via www.wildlife.alaska.gov./index.cfm?adfg=marinemammals.bowhead. Accessed 6 May 2010.
Cott P, Hanna B (2005) Monitoring explosive-based winter seismic exploration in waterbodies, NWT 2000–2002. In: Armsworthy SL, Cranford PJ, Lee K (eds) Proceedings of the Offshore Oil and Gas Environmental Effects Monitoring Workshop: Approaches and Technologies, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 26–30 May 2003, Dartmouth, NS, Canada, pp 473–601.
Cott PA, Hanna BW, Dahl JA (2003) Discussion on seismic exploration in the Northwest Territories 2000–2003. Can Manuscr Rep Fish Aquat Sci 2648: vi +36.
Godard DR, Peters L, Evans R, Wautier K, Cott PA, Hanna B, Palace V (2008) Development of histopathology tools to assess instantaneous pressure change-induced effects in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) early life stages. Environmental Studies Research Funds Report 164, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Government of Canada (2010) Tarium Niryutait marine protected areas regulations. Canada Gazette, 10 April 2010, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Available via http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2010/2010-04-10/html/reg2-eng.html#reg. Accessed 6 May 2010.
Harwood L, Smith TG, Melling H (2007) Assessing the potential effects of near shore hydrocarbon exploration on ringed seals in the Beaufort Sea Region 2003–2006. Environmental Studies Research Funds Report 162.
Harwood L, Joynt A, Kennedy D, Pitt R, Moore S (2009) Spatial restrictions and temporal planning as measures to mitigate potential effects of seismic noise on cetaceans: A working example from the Canadian Beaufort Sea, 2007–2008. Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Research Document 2009/040, iv + 14 p.
Harwood LA, Auld J, Joynt A, Moore SE (2010) Distribution of bowhead whales in the SE Beaufort Sea during late summer, 2007–2009. Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Research Document 2009/111, v + 22 p.
Jorgensen JK, Gyselman EC (2009) Hydroacoustic measurements of the behavioral response of arctic riverine fishes to seismic airguns. J Acoust Soc Am 126:1598–1609.
Mann D, Cott P, Horne B (2009) Under-ice noise generated from diamond exploration in a Canadian sub-arctic lake and potential impacts on fishes. J Acoust Soc Am 126:2215–2222.
Mann DA, Cott PA Hanna BW, Popper AN (2007) Hearing in eight species of northern Canadian freshwater fishes. J Fish Biol 69:1–12.
Popper AN, Smith ME, Cott PA, MacGillivray AO, Austin ME, Mann DA (2005) Effects of exposure to seismic airgun use on hearing of three fish species. J Acoust Soc Am 117:3958–3971.
Racca RG, Hannay DE, Murray RB, Griffiths WB, Muller M (2004) Testing fish deterrents for use under-ice in the Mackenzie Delta area. Environmental Studies Research Funds Report 145, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Smith TG (1987) The ringed seal, Phoca hispida, of the Canadian western arctic. Can Bull Fish Aquat Sci 216:1–81.
Song J, Mann DA, Cott PA, Hanna BW, Popper AN (2008) Ear structure in seven species of northern Canadian freshwater fishes, including effects of seismic exposure on ear tissues in select species. J Acoust Soc Am 124:1360–1366.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this paper
Cite this paper
Hanna, B.W., Cott, P.A., Joynt, A.A., Harwood, L. (2012). Managing Anthropogenic Underwater Noise in the Northwest Territories, Canada. In: Popper, A.N., Hawkins, A. (eds) The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 730. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7311-5_142
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7311-5_142
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-7310-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-7311-5
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)