Behavioral responses of herring (Clupea harengus) to 1–2 and 6–7 kHz sonar signals and killer whale feeding sounds
article
Military antisubmarine sonars produce intense sounds within the hearing range of most clupeid fish. The behavioral
reactions of overwintering herring (Clupea harengus) to sonar signals of two different frequency ranges (1–2 and 6–7 kHz),
and to playback of killer whale feeding sounds, were tested in controlled exposure experiments in Vestfjorden, Norway, November 2006.
The behavior of free ranging herring was monitored by two upward-looking echosounders. A vessel towing an
operational naval sonar source approached and passed over one of them in a block design setup. No
significant escape reactions, either vertically or horizontally, were detected in response to sonar
transmissions. Killer whale feeding sounds induced vertical and horizontal movements of herring.
The results indicate that neither transmission of 1–2 kHz nor 6–7 kHz have significant negative
influence on herring on the received sound pressure level tested (127-197 and 139-209 dB rms re 1 vPa respectively).
Military sonars of such frequencies and source levels may thus be operated in
areas of overwintering herring without substantially affecting herring behavior or herring fishery.
The avoidance during playback of killer whale sounds demonstrates the nature of an avoidance
reaction and the ability of the experimental design to reveal it.
reactions of overwintering herring (Clupea harengus) to sonar signals of two different frequency ranges (1–2 and 6–7 kHz),
and to playback of killer whale feeding sounds, were tested in controlled exposure experiments in Vestfjorden, Norway, November 2006.
The behavior of free ranging herring was monitored by two upward-looking echosounders. A vessel towing an
operational naval sonar source approached and passed over one of them in a block design setup. No
significant escape reactions, either vertically or horizontally, were detected in response to sonar
transmissions. Killer whale feeding sounds induced vertical and horizontal movements of herring.
The results indicate that neither transmission of 1–2 kHz nor 6–7 kHz have significant negative
influence on herring on the received sound pressure level tested (127-197 and 139-209 dB rms re 1 vPa respectively).
Military sonars of such frequencies and source levels may thus be operated in
areas of overwintering herring without substantially affecting herring behavior or herring fishery.
The avoidance during playback of killer whale sounds demonstrates the nature of an avoidance
reaction and the ability of the experimental design to reveal it.
TNO Identifier
28553
Source
Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 125(January), pp. 554-564.
Pages
554-564
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