An integrated approach to assessing marine seismic impacts: Lessons learnt from the Gippsland Marine Environmental Monitoring project

Marine seismic surveys are a fundamental tool for geological research, including the exploration of offshore oil and gas resources, but the sound generated during these surveys represents a major source of noise pollution in the marine environment. Recent evidence has shown that seismic surveys may negatively affect some cetaceans, fish and invertebrates, although the magnitude of these impacts remains uncertain. This paper applies a case study on marine seismic impacts (the Gippsland Marine Environmental Monitoring (GMEM) project) to the critical assessment of the advantages and challenges of a multi-faceted field-based approach in the context of future research and management priorities. We found that multiple experimental components, including both conventional and innovative methods, facilitate an interdisciplinary approach and also provide a failsafe in case of limited suitable data. Field observational studies provide an unparalleled level of ecological realism, although their practical challenges must be considered during research planning. We also note the need for appropriate environmental baselines and accessible time-series data to account for spatiotemporal variability of environmental and biological parameters that may mask effects, as well as the need for a standardised technique in sound monitoring and equipment calibration to ensure accuracy and comparability among studies.

Citation: Rachel Przeslawski, Brendan Brooke, Andrew G. Carroll, Melissa Fellows, An integrated approach to assessing marine seismic impacts: Lessons learnt from the Gippsland Marine Environmental Monitoring project, Ocean & Coastal Management, Volume 160, 2018, Pages 117-123, ISSN 0964-5691, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2018.04.011.