Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2015
Department 1
Environmental Studies
Abstract
Seismic surveys are widely used in marine geophysical oil and gas exploration, employing airguns to produce sound-waves capable of penetrating the sea floor. In recent years, concerns have been raised over the biological impacts of this activity, particularly for marine mammals. While exploration occurs in the waters of at least fifty countries where marine turtles are present, the degree of threat posed by seismic surveys is almost entirely unknown. To investigate this issue, a mixed-methods approach involving a systematic review, policy comparison and stakeholder analysis was employed and recommendations for future research were identified. This study found that turtles have been largely neglected both in terms of research and their inclusion in mitigation policies. Few studies have investigated the potential for seismic surveys to cause behavioural changes or physical damage, indicating a crucial knowledge gap. Possible ramifications for turtles include exclusion from critical habitats, damage to hearing and entanglement in seismic survey equipment. Despite this, the policy comparison revealed that only three countries worldwide currently include turtles in their seismic mitigation guidelines and very few of the measures they specify are based on scientific evidence or proven effectiveness. Opinions obtained from stakeholder groups further highlight the urgent need for directed, in-depth empirical research to better inform and develop appropriate mitigation strategies. As seismic surveying is becoming increasingly widespread and frequent, it is important and timely that we evaluate the extent to which marine turtles, a taxon of global conservation concern, may be affected.
Copyright Note
This is the publisher's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution.
DOI
10.1016/j.biocon.2015.10.020
Recommended Citation
Nelms, Sarah E., Wendy Dow Piniak, Caroline R. Weir, Brendan J. Godley. "Seismic Surveys and Marine Turtles: An Underestimated Global Threat?" Biological Conservation 193 (January 2016), 49-65.
Required Publisher's Statement
Original version is available from the publisher at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320715301452
Included in
Animal Studies Commons, Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Environmental Education Commons, Environmental Health and Protection Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons
Comments
Open Access funded by Natural Environment Research Council. Published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.