Preliminary analysis of marine observer data from New Zealand seismic surveys
Report of the preliminary investigation of the data collected between 2013-2015 by marine mammal observers and passive acoustic monitoring during seismic surveys in New Zealand. Published 2016.

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Summary

Data pertaining to marine mammals was collected during seismic surveys undertaken in New Zealand in accordance with the 2012 and 2013 Code of Conduct for Minimising Acoustic Disturbance to Marine Mammals from Seismic Survey Operations (the Code).

New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DOC) commissioned Blue Planet Marine to conduct a preliminary analysis of this data, in part to inform the review of the Code that began in earnest in early 2015.

New information provided by this analysis includes: an indication of the species recorded and their locations; an assessment of any differences in the rates of detection made by visual and acoustic means; and a review of the mitigation measures taken in association with the detections. A discussion of the various limitations within the data collected, as well as possible areas of improvement, is also provided.