Review of Scientific Information on Impacts of Seismic Sound on Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Turtles and Marine Mammals

A Workshop to develop a “Decision Framework for Seismic Survey Referrals” held in March 2003 produced an inventory of ecological factors that DFO should consider when dealing with referrals for seismic surveys in Canadian waters. The workshop also discussed the sources of uncertainty about effects of seismic sounds on those ecological factors, and ways that the uncertainty could be presented in science documents evaluating possible impacts. The workshop did not attempt to review critically the scientific literature on impacts of seismic sounds or effectiveness of mitigation options. Consequently the meeting did not address tolerances for ecological impacts, if any, or operational standards for respecting such tolerances.