Imagine being a whale, cruising swiftly along in the waters off the East Coast, only to be violently disturbed by a blast of noise as loud as a jet engine ”“ not once, but every 20 to 24 seconds, all day, for at least 17 days.
That’s what’s being proposed by the U.S. Geological Survey, which plans to use seismic blasting to map the outer limits of the continental shelf off the East Coast in the coming years.
For humans, such a terribly loud sound would be an annoyance, but for whales it can be deadly. That’s why this mapping proposal has mobilized environmentalists. Clean Ocean Action, a nonprofit environmental group, has submitted official comments to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that outline the problems with this type of mapping.
COA is asking that the USGS’s request for “incidental harassment authorization” under the Mairne Mammal Protection Act be denied and a full environmental impact statement completed before any work is undertaken, rather than only the basic environmental assessment that was completed in May 2014.
We agree that the evidence of seismic testing’s impact on whales and other marine life is concerning enough to put the brakes on this mapping project. Even low level noises, closer to the 160 decible range, can cause changes in marine animal behavior, according to scientific studies cited by the COA in their statement.
The USGS proposes to use 36 airguns with a decible level of 236 to 265 when in operation ”“ which is comparable to the sound of a jet engine from one meter away, according to the International Association of Geophysical Contractors. In addition to these guns, the seismic blasting project would use an echosounder system that operates within many species of whales’ primary hearing range and has been implicated in mass strandings, in published marine biology reports cited by the COA. Marine studies have shown that such sounds can cause animals such as whales to leave the area and stop vocalizing, which affects breeding; to become disoriented and strand themselves on beahces; and to surface rapidly, resulting in decompression sickness and death, the COA reports.
As well, the mapping is currently scheduled for August through September 2014 and April to August 2015, which are prime breeding and feeding times for several species of marine life, and will be further disruptive.
The USGS already won a court battle to allow this blasting research in New Jersey this summer, so it’s likely they’ll prevail again in their attempts to expand the scope fo their research from the U.S./Canada border downward to Florida. Seismic blasting is a process commonly used by commercial vessels to locate deposits on the ocean floor for mining of oil, gas and minerals, and it appears that there is little concern for its long-term impact on sea life. The USGS is calling it a “low impact” project that could allow the nation to expand its range of influence and determine areas where tsunamis are likely to occur. The nation’s exclusive economic zone extends for 200 miles, but that could be extended, depending on the results of the research.
We hear a lot of lip service from the government about “saving the whales” and protecting the environment, but it seems they’re given little consideration when a project that could benefit the national interests is proposed. At this point, however, the USGS plan has yet to be approved by NOAA and we hope they’ll seriously consider the evidence of the harm that can be done by this particular proposal before giving their approval.
Hearing is incredibly important for whales and other marine life, and we must be very cautious about disturbing their living space, even as we try to gather more information to protect our own.
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Today’s editorial was written by Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen by calling 282-1535, ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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