I'm affiliated with a cetacean-focused NGO that has asked me to pass along this inquiry concerning a specific seismic program and its detrimental effects on aquatic life. Any accounts from divers that have heard or witnessed anything (anecdotal accounts or empirical documentation) relating to this particular activity would be greatly appreciated:
Under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation (NSF), a marine seismic survey in SE Asia is now taking place. The primary purpose of this Taiwan Integrated Geodynamics Research (TAIGER) project is to investigate the processes of mountain building. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has condoned an application from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (L-DEO -- a part of Columbia University), for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to "take" (harm) small numbers of marine mammals by harassment *, incidental to conducting this marine seismic survey in Southeast (SE) Asia that was approved and is presently underway.
*Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of marine mammals by United States citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region.
A total of 34 cetacean species, including 25 dolphins and small and large toothed whales and 9 species of baleen whale are known to exist in this proposed TAIGER study. Several of these species are listed as Endangered under the ESA, including the Western North Pacific gray, North Pacific right, sperm, humpback, fin, sei, and blue whales. In addition, the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin is listed as Near Threatened and the finless porpoise is listed as Vulnerable under the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN, 2008).
The survey involves one source vessel, the R/V Marcus G. Langseth. The ship uses an array of 36 airguns (Multibeam Echosounders) as an energy source at a tow depth of 6–9 m (20–30 ft). The seismic activity covers approximately 15,902 km (9,881 mi) of transect lines within the South and East China Seas as well as the Philippine Sea, with the majority of the survey effort occurring in the South China Sea. It encompasses the area 17 30’-26 30’ N, 113 30’-126 E within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of Taiwan, China, Japan, and the Philippines, and also on the high seas, and is operating from March 21 to July 14, 2009 (103 days of seismic acquisition).
The first leg of seismic activity started March 21 and goes to April 19, 2009 and includes the survey lines in the South China Sea. The second leg is scheduled for April 20 to June 7 and will include survey lines in Luzon Strait and the Philippine Sea. The third leg (approximately June 8–20) will involve OBS (ocean bottom seismometers) recovery by the Langseth; no seismic acquisition will occur during that leg. The fourth leg, consisting of the survey lines immediately around Taiwan, intermediate, and shallow water will be determined for various airgun is scheduled to occur from June 21 to July 14, 2009.
The highest number of marine mammal sightings in these waters occur during April and June. The number of sightings per survey efforts and the number of species are highest directly west of the southern tip of Taiwan and northeast off the southern tip.
Please direct any information you may have by messaging me or directly to: Cetacean Society International; rossiter@csiwhalesalive.org
More in-depth info with petition: Save the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins
Thanks,
ebonites
