Research Document 2020/041
Review of the Statement of Canadian Practice with Respect to the Mitigation of Seismic Sound in the Marine Environment
By Moulton, V.D., A. d’Entremont and J.R. Christian
Abstract
In 2008, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) published “The Statement of Canadian Practice with respect to the Mitigation of Seismic Sound in the Marine Environment” (SOCP). The implementation of the SOCP has become a requirement by government agencies responsible for regulating geophysical exploration using air sources (commonly referred to as “airguns”) in Canada. The SOCP was, in large part, based on a 2004 peer-reviewed report “Review of Scientific Information on Impacts of Seismic Sound on Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Turtles and Marine Mammals” and an assessment by technical experts of the best available and internationally-recognized techniques to mitigate the effects of seismic sound in the marine environment at that time.
The objective of this document is to provide a literature overview and an analysis of the recent science (since the 2004 peer-reviewed report), related Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) processes, regional Canadian mitigation and monitoring practices, and relevant international guidelines and protocols to determine if the 2008 SOCP requires updates to protect marine species. Based on the analysis of this information, we provided 29 recommendations for changes to the 2008 SOCP, which addressed all components of the SOCP. These recommendations and the associated rationale were discussed at a CSAS meeting held in Halifax, Nova Scotia on 28–30 May 2019 and are included as an appendix to a DFO Science Advisory Report (DFO 2020).
Accessibility Notice
This document is available in PDF format. If the document is not accessible to you, please contact the Secretariat to obtain another appropriate format, such as regular print, large print, Braille or audio version.
- Date modified: