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Maritime government
03-27-2016 05:47:30
Victoria University of Canada is leading a mission aimed at helping protect baleen whales from endangered and endangered ships.
The project is taking place off Flores Island in Clayoquot Sound, north of Tofino, BC. Over the next three weeks, a two-meter underwater marine controller with acoustic sensors, sonar and hydrophones will allow researchers to monitor whale movements by listening and recording their sounds throughout the world. shelf in Clayoquot Canyon.
The project, led by geographer David Duffus, director of the UVic Whale Research Lab, is part of the national WHaLE (Whales, Habitats and Hearing Test) project which seeks to improve the habitat of whales. definition and “develop a near real-time whale. warning system to reduce the risk of whale accidents.
The project is funded by the Marine Environment Observation and Response Network (MEOPAR) based at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. The multidisciplinary team focuses on ecologically sensitive whale habitats on Canada’s Atlantic coast and now off the west coast of Vancouver. The first success was achieved on the East Coast in known habitats of the right whale in the North Atlantic.
“Ocean warblers are a new way to experience the ecology of whales on the west coast of Canada,” says Duffus. “Many species of concern under the Endangered Species Act of Canada are described as ‘data deficient.’ We need more information about whale habitats and whale feeding ‘hot spots’ so that we can put in place protective measures, such as real-time whale warnings for shipping traffic. “
Large baleen whales – such as the humpback, sei, blue and real whale in the North Pacific – are difficult to study, largely because of their underwater consumption. far from land and eating tiny zooplankton and small fish. By listening for the sounds of typical whales, researchers can monitor the movements and circulation of the whales.
Because marine conservationists can monitor at night and in inclement weather, researchers will have more in-depth data to map baleen whale habitat and key feeding areas. The data will guide conservation efforts to protect whales from shipping traffic and noise in key marine areas.
The long-term goal of the WHaLE project is to develop, test and implement the Canadian whale warning system where regional vessel traffic and other stakeholders are notified of near-real-time whale locations via satellite communications and equipment. mobile.
The WHaLE three-year initiative is funded by MEOPAR by researchers at UVic and Dalhousie Universities and – for this mission – with support and / or colleagues from Ocean Tracking Network, Ocean Networks Canada at UVic, British University Columbia, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Pacific) and 17 other organizations.