Species Response to Anthropogenic Noise

Focus: A geological seismic survey of the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ), a megathrust fault off the Pacific Northwest where the Juan de Fuca plate and North American plate meet was conducted off the Oregon Coast in summer 2021. The survey used airguns to image the fault and learn more about its characteristics.

Issue: While a great deal of research has focused on noise effects of these airguns on marine mammals, few studies have looked at fish responses and even fewer have looked at crustaceans, particularly in this part of the world. Because marine species such as rockfish, lingcod, and crabs are important members of Oregon’s nearshore ecological communities and our culture, we developed a collaborative research project with ODFW and Integral Consulting. The project aims to study the response of fish and crabs to the noise generated from the seismic survey, and is focused on the Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve (RRMR), which will receive three passes during the seismic survey.

Approach: The fish and crab will be “observed” by tracking their movements and behaviors with tags that can be detected by receivers placed on moorings in the reserve. Oceanographic data such as temperature, salinity, and oxygen are will also be collected on the moorings.