Published:  

January 2016
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.

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.

Publication information

© Copyright January 2016
New Zealand Department of Conservation

Marine Species and Threats Team
New Zealand Department of Conservation
National Office
PO Box 10 420
Wellington 6143
New Zealand

ISBN 978-0-478-15056-8 (Web only)

Contact

Ian Angus
Marine Species and Threats
Department of Conservation
Email: marine@doc.govt.nz 
Phone: +64 4 471 0726

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