Can Novel Seismic Survey Sources Mitigate Potential Impacts To Fisheries?
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$998,608.00
Summary
3D Marine seismic surveys (MSS) are typically used by the petroleum industry to locate potential oil and gas deposits. In Australia, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) requires an Environmental Plan (EP) be developed to demonstrate that the MSS will be carried out in a manner that is consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development, and that the environmental impacts and risks associated with the MSS will be reduced to as ....3D Marine seismic surveys (MSS) are typically used by the petroleum industry to locate potential oil and gas deposits. In Australia, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) requires an Environmental Plan (EP) be developed to demonstrate that the MSS will be carried out in a manner that is consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development, and that the environmental impacts and risks associated with the MSS will be reduced to as low as reasonably practicable. However, during the public consultation phase of the EP, there is often a perceived conflict between the proponents of the survey and the fishing industry, with the later party often concerned that the survey will harm the fishery stocks and their livelihoods. As such, there is a need to break the continual cycle where each EP seemingly triggers the same ill feeling and distrust from the fishing industry. One possible way to do this is to introduce new seismic sources or ways of using current sources, such that some or all of the potential impacts are mitigated. While there are new seismic sources and source designs that should lessen any impact on animals, these have not been tested with animals anywhere in the world and have never been tested or used in Australia in general and only sparsely overseas. As such there is an urgent need to compare a current industry standard seismic array to arrays using alternate sources of seismic signals or different source designs to determine the relative impact of each on marine animals, while also comparing the quality of the geophysical records obtained from each source. This approach would put Australian fisheries management, NOPSEMA, Australian Oil and Gas, the fishing industry, etc. ahead of the game of determining what alternate sources will reduce conflict between two key industries. It would also move us into a position to start mitigating the impacts of seismic surveys, rather than the situation we currently have, where each individual seismic survey causes a large amount of angst between a large number of stake holders. Objectives: 1. Compare standard and alterative seismic sources 2. Determine the impact of each seismic source on Pecten fumatus 3. Determine the impact of each seismic source on Jasus edwardsii 4. Relative impact and threshold distances of each seismic source Read moreRead less
Communication Of 2019-051 "Seismic Impacts To Octopus" Results At OceanNoise 2023 Conference In Barcelona
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$6,000.00
Summary
Presentation of study results in a plenary session - having the opportunity to present in a plenary session provides the opportunity to communicate research results to a highly relevant cohort of colleagues who are also active researchers in the field of aquatic noise. Directly communicating the results will raise the profile of the project, ensuring wider attention and citation of FRDC funded research. We are also hoping to develop collaborative efforts with these colleagues to extend the fin ....Presentation of study results in a plenary session - having the opportunity to present in a plenary session provides the opportunity to communicate research results to a highly relevant cohort of colleagues who are also active researchers in the field of aquatic noise. Directly communicating the results will raise the profile of the project, ensuring wider attention and citation of FRDC funded research. We are also hoping to develop collaborative efforts with these colleagues to extend the findings of the FRDC funded project into additional projects in the future to value-add to the already conducted research. Attendance at the conference will also provide Ryan with insight into the current state of research from other experts, potentially leading to innovative research avenues in the future.Read moreRead less
Assessing The Impact Of Marine Seismic Surveys On Southeast Australian Scallop And Lobster Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$694,119.94
Summary
Seismic surveys are commonly undertaken within southeast Australian waters, often overlapping commercial fishing grounds. The fishing industry is now very concerned about the potential of intense low frequency acoustic signals produced during these surveys to disturb, harm or even kill fisheries species. The limited number of studies conducted to date generally report that fish can demonstrate behavioural responses to seismic activities, including startle and flight responses, displacement, disp ....Seismic surveys are commonly undertaken within southeast Australian waters, often overlapping commercial fishing grounds. The fishing industry is now very concerned about the potential of intense low frequency acoustic signals produced during these surveys to disturb, harm or even kill fisheries species. The limited number of studies conducted to date generally report that fish can demonstrate behavioural responses to seismic activities, including startle and flight responses, displacement, dispersal, and disruption of feeding or breeding activity. These behavioural responses could in turn result in changes in commercial catch rates. Conversely, the bulk of the available literature examining the effect of seismic surveys on invertebrates suggests that they may be relatively resilient to seismic sound. However, there have been very few dedicated studies of the effects of marine seismic surveys on invertebrates, and as such the testing protocols have not directly considered invertebrates. In the light of a general lack of well-designed studies examining the effect of marine seismic surveys on invertebrates and in the absence of any detailed specific studies on commercial scallops and southern rock lobster, fishers in both Victoria and Tasmania have lobbied for dedicated research targeting these valuable resources. This study aims to use a field and laboratory experimental approach to determine the impact of marine seismic surveys on these important fisheries species. The results obtained will also be broadly applicable to scallop and spiny lobster fisheries throughout Australia, and mollusc and crustacean fisheries in general.
Objectives: 1. Determine the impact of intense low frequency acoustic signals on adult southern rock lobsters, including berried (egg carrying) females 2. Determine the impact of intense low frequency acoustic signals on adult commercial scallops 3. Outline threshold distances for potential impacts of seismic surveying Read moreRead less
Oil And Gas: National Coordination - Seismic And Other Issues
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$426,973.59
Summary
The commercial fishing industry is under intense pressure from the O&G sector (exploration, seismic surveys, deployment of gear and now decommissioning of gear), jeopardising commercial fishing access rights, commercial fishing sustainability and potential commercial fishing resource impacts (such as Bass Strait scallop mortality) and overarching impacts on the broader marine environment (such as plankton mortality) for many fisheries.
The O&G industry also seeks relevant science to u ....The commercial fishing industry is under intense pressure from the O&G sector (exploration, seismic surveys, deployment of gear and now decommissioning of gear), jeopardising commercial fishing access rights, commercial fishing sustainability and potential commercial fishing resource impacts (such as Bass Strait scallop mortality) and overarching impacts on the broader marine environment (such as plankton mortality) for many fisheries.
The O&G industry also seeks relevant science to use within their environment plan submissions to offer the best ALARP practices regarding their interactions with the commercial fishing sector and the commercial fishing resource.
There is an urgent need for a national role coordinating O&G / commercial fishing specific R&D needs, seeking and updating available material and identifying gaps in the science with all materials to be available via a publicly accessible portal. Benefits for commercial fishers, O&G, eNGOs, students and the broader community.
Primary focus seismic activities plus other relevant science.
Current O&G / commercial fishing industry engagement is done in isolation with an inconsistent use of research (relevant or otherwise), inconsistent process, lack of uniformity of overarching messaging, lack of access to current and appropriate research and the duplication of work across all states.
Objectives: 1. Deliver a publicly accessible portal - a "one stop shop" for seismic research bibliographies, case studies and other relevant commercial fishing O&G information etc. 2. Deliver ongoing identification and qualification of relevant research papers and reference cases including annotated summaries to ensure relevance for ready and easy access by the commercial fishing sector, O&G and the broader community. 3. Deliver a set number of supported research applications relevant to the effects of oil and gas activities on commercial fishing / commercial fishing stocks etc, i.e. gap analysis and prioritisation. 4. Deliver a "best practice" document for commercial fishing representative bodies to use as a strong base for environment plan submissions. 5. Deliver a "best practice" document for commercial fishing representative bodies to use as a strong base and consistent process for fee-for-service environment plan consultation. Read moreRead less
Aquaculture is expanding not only overseas but also in Australia and this has attracted a cadre of young scientists with little experience in aquatic animal health. Although not all “aquatic” techniques are unique there are some aspects that are specific to aquatic technical skills and procedures. In addition, some of these inexperienced scientists/technologists feel that they are on their own and are even intimidated to request assistance. In some instances they don’t know where to go or whom ....Aquaculture is expanding not only overseas but also in Australia and this has attracted a cadre of young scientists with little experience in aquatic animal health. Although not all “aquatic” techniques are unique there are some aspects that are specific to aquatic technical skills and procedures. In addition, some of these inexperienced scientists/technologists feel that they are on their own and are even intimidated to request assistance. In some instances they don’t know where to go or whom to ask for input or direction. The “aquatic animal heath” discipline involves a relatively small number of specialists that do not get the opportunity to convene at meetings/workshops/ conferences as often as those involved in the terrestrial animal health sphere. The forum activities will include; 1) the planning and hosting of annual training workshop
2) further development of the established email discussion group
The forum would be open to all aquatic animal health specialists and industry personnel eg. fish farm staff who will be encouraged to register as a member of the forum. The forum will include annual workshops for participants with a variety of skills and levels of experience and who are resident at government laboratories, universities and colleges. This will build on the previous skills workshops that have been conducted in 2010 and 2011, which has assisted in the development of functional networks for the exchange of information and enhancement of the skills of the aquatic animal health service providers and on farm staff. In addition to developing a valuable national resource - a repository of technical knowledge – the forum provides mentoring to the new generation of laboratory technicians, students and staff at diagnostic laboratories, teaching institutions and aquaculture enterprises.
Objectives: 1. To further develop the email discussion group for the Aquatic animal health technical forum 2. To ensure the continuation of technical information transfer between forum members 3. To organise annual workshops at various institutes that provide specific aquatic animal health services. 4. To open the forum to international participation and thus enhancing the knowledge base of the forum members, for example exotic diseases. 5. To canvass State Departments for potential funding contributions to enable the continuation of the forum beyond 2015. Read moreRead less
Australia possesses significant coastal and near coastal oil and gas reserves within its continental shelf. It follows that oil and gas exploration (especially seismic) is also significant; especially in the the Bass Strait, Great Australian Bight and North-Western 'Kimberley' areas of Australia. Up until recently, the offshore regulatory framework which includes assessment of effects on the aquatic environment and engagement with other users has been somewhat nebulous and Offshore Industry driv ....Australia possesses significant coastal and near coastal oil and gas reserves within its continental shelf. It follows that oil and gas exploration (especially seismic) is also significant; especially in the the Bass Strait, Great Australian Bight and North-Western 'Kimberley' areas of Australia. Up until recently, the offshore regulatory framework which includes assessment of effects on the aquatic environment and engagement with other users has been somewhat nebulous and Offshore Industry driven, with the development of aquatic environmental benchmarks being based on the same process as offshore OH&S and butressed by disputed sometimes irrelevant science. Seismic expoloration in recent years has seen increased interaction between different aquatic ecosystems and marine users, resulting in a "contact" situation that was initially calamitous; but which has resulted in significant investment in Marine biological R&D, an increase in the deployment of the precautionary principle and marine environmental policy innovation.
Johnathon Davey (SIV) and Aaron Irving (NAC) will deliver a presentation that will draw on a number of aquatic environmental effects research project where Australia's fishing sectors were or are driving, policy innovations that we assisted in driving or supporting and case studies including the pearling Industry story, to provide a snapshot of the exciting work being undertaken in Australia currently in the marine environmental space with regard to the effects of seismic surveying and the ability for different users to play together successfully.
Objectives: 1. TO discuss issues relating to fisheries interactions in the marine environment Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100329
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Linking seismic structure to geodynamic processes beneath Australasia. This project aims to understand the relationship of mantle discontinuities beneath the Australian tectonic plate to mantle convection processes. Subducting slabs stagnate at different depths in the mantle, but the reason is not known. The Australian plate has complex boundaries which exhibit a range of subduction behaviours, making it an ideal location to study convection mechanisms. The project will use specialised seismic s ....Linking seismic structure to geodynamic processes beneath Australasia. This project aims to understand the relationship of mantle discontinuities beneath the Australian tectonic plate to mantle convection processes. Subducting slabs stagnate at different depths in the mantle, but the reason is not known. The Australian plate has complex boundaries which exhibit a range of subduction behaviours, making it an ideal location to study convection mechanisms. The project will use specialised seismic stations for detailed studies beneath New Zealand and Indonesia. The goal is to determine the relationship between seismic observations and geodynamical processes beneath Australasia, and understand how deeper mechanisms influence seismic activity and earthquake hazard at Earth's surface. Such detailed observations will help us to understand processes at the Earth's surface, with implications for earthquake hazard.Read moreRead less
Lighting Up Dark Fibre for Seismic Imaging. Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is a newly emerging passive seismic technique that converts telecommunication fibre-optic cables (dark fibres) into thousands of individual ground motion sensors. This project aims to harness DAS and the big data arising from it to develop unprecedented high-resolution images of the Earth’s structure, detect micro-seismicity, and thereby relate geological observations to Earth processes. Outcomes of this powerful tech ....Lighting Up Dark Fibre for Seismic Imaging. Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is a newly emerging passive seismic technique that converts telecommunication fibre-optic cables (dark fibres) into thousands of individual ground motion sensors. This project aims to harness DAS and the big data arising from it to develop unprecedented high-resolution images of the Earth’s structure, detect micro-seismicity, and thereby relate geological observations to Earth processes. Outcomes of this powerful technique include fine-scale seismic imaging of the Earth’s subsurface as the best proxy for geological processes and geochemistry. Benefits include transforming exploration of mineral resources, water, changes in subsurface structure, as well as geohazard assessments for Australia and worldwideRead moreRead less
Measuring the seismic pulse of the Earth using fibre optics . Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is a newly emerging passive seismic technique that converts telecommunication fibre-optic cables (dark fibres) into thousands of individual ground motion sensors. This project aims to harness DAS and the big data arising from it to develop unprecedented high-resolution images of the Earth’s structure, detect micro-seismicity, and thereby relate geological observations to Earth processes. Outcomes of ....Measuring the seismic pulse of the Earth using fibre optics . Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is a newly emerging passive seismic technique that converts telecommunication fibre-optic cables (dark fibres) into thousands of individual ground motion sensors. This project aims to harness DAS and the big data arising from it to develop unprecedented high-resolution images of the Earth’s structure, detect micro-seismicity, and thereby relate geological observations to Earth processes. Outcomes of this powerful technique include fine-scale seismic imaging of the Earth’s subsurface as the best proxy for geological processes and geochemistry. Benefits include transforming exploration of mineral resources, water, changes in subsurface structure, as well as geohazard assessments for Australia and worldwide.Read moreRead less