Data from: Subtle shift in groundfish depth distribution within the impact range of seismic surveying along a continental slope
Data files
Abstract
The impact of an industry-based 3D seismic airgun survey on fish and zooplankton was investigated on offshore commercial fishing grounds in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Seismic surveying was conducted for 100 consecutive days by Petroleum GeoServices using the Ramform Titan seismic vessel during summer 2021. A seabed moored autonomous multichannel acoustic recorder measured sound levels while a wideband autonomous transceiver equipped with 38 and 333 kHz transducers measured fish and zooplankton backscatter in the water column. The distance between the seismic survey vessel and the instruments ranged from 0 to 152 km and was tracked continuously. Fish between depths of 50 m and 350 m exhibited a response to seismic surveying, descending to greater depths when the seismic vessel was within 60 km and when average sound pressure levels (SPL, using a 60-sec average over the band of 8.9-8900 Hz) were >122 dB re 1μPa². Conversely, no discernible effect on zooplankton abundance or behavior was measured between 250 m and 340 m depths. These findings suggest that the effects of seismic surveying in offshore environments are mainly impacting fish behaviour when sound levels are high, and impacts were observed at greater distances than previously reported.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.n5tb2rc63
Description of the data and file structure
Fig. 2. A 60-sec SPL in the band of 8.9-8900 Hz measured at the AMAR vs. the distance to the seismic survey vessel Ramform Titan, including the equation of the highly impacted area, ambient noise area, and break-point at 60 km.
Fig. 3. Daily changes in the backscatter (NASC) and centre of mass (CM) measured using 38kHz and 333kHz acoustic transducers, over the study duration.
Fig. 4. The effect of seismic exposure on NASC (A), CM (B), PO (C), and AI (D) for 38 kHz and 333 kHz over distance from the WBAT to the seismic vessel.
Fig. 5. A predicted effect of seismic exposure on CM at 38 kHz over distance and SPL from the WBAT to the seismic vessel.
Figure 6. The effect of seismic exposure on target strength, speed, and change in depth of single individuals tracked over consecutive pings in relation to the distance from the seismic vessel.
Fig. 7. The effect of seismic exposure on NASC, CM, PO, and AI for 38 kHz and 333 kHz during the day and night over the range of sound exposure levels at the WBAT.
Fig. 8. Comparison of CM for 38 kHz transducer for daytime and nighttime data between ambient area (<120 dB re 1μPa²) vs intensive noise area (≥120 dB re 1μPa²).
Files and variables
File: Fig2.csv
Description: A 60-sec SPL in the band of 8.9-8900 Hz measured at the AMAR vs. the distance to the seismic survey vessel Ramform Titan, including the equation of the highly impacted area, ambient noise area, and break-point at 60 km.
Variables
- lat_seismic: Seismic vessel position (Latitude); Unit: degree North
- lon_seismic: Seismic vessel position (Longitude); Unit: degree West
- lrms_AMAR: SPL at AMAR; Unit: dB re 1μPa²
- distance: Raw distance between AMAR and seismic vessel over time; Unit: km
- Dist_Predicted: Predicted distance between AMAR and seismic vessel over time; Unit: km
- mean: Predicted mean SPL; Unit: dB re 1μPa²
- lcl: Lower confidence intervals; Unit: dB re 1μPa²
- ucl: Upper confidence intervals; Unit: dB re 1μPa²
- Cate: Category, D1: Impacted noise distance; D2: Ambient noise distance; Unit: Not applicable (NA)
All empty cells in this table are measurement not taken
File: Fig3.csv
Description: Daily changes in the backscatter (NASC) and centre of mass (CM) measured using 38kHz and 333kHz acoustic transducers, over the study duration.
Variables
- Time: Time calculated NASC; Unit: hour
- Cat: Transducer 38kHz, 333kHz; Unit: kHz
- NASC: Value of NASC; Unit: m2/nmi2
- uprP: Upper confidence intervals; Unit: m2/nmi2
- lwrP: Lower confidence intervals; Unit: m2/nmi2
There are no empty cells in this table
File: Fig4.csv
Description: The effect of seismic exposure on NASC (A), CM (B), PO (C), and AI (D) for 38 kHz and 333 kHz over distance from the WBAT to the seismic vessel.
Variables
- Distance: Real distance between seismic vessel and AMAR; Unit: km
- Value: Raw value of NASC, CM, PO, and AI; Unit: NASC (m2/nmi2), CM (m), PO (%), and AI (m-1)
- pred: Predicted value of NASC, CM, PO, and AI; Unit: NASC (m2/nmi2), CM (m), PO (%), and AI (m-1)
- lwr: Lower confidence intervals; Unit: NASC (m2/nmi2), CM (m), PO (%), and AI (m-1)
- upr: Upper confidence intervals; Unit: NASC (m2/nmi2), CM (m), PO (%), and AI (m-1)
- Veriable: Variables: NASC, CM, PO, and AI; Unit: NASC (m2/nmi2), CM (m), PO (%), and AI (m-1)
- Frequency: Transducer 38kHz and 333kHz; Unit: kHz
- Dat: Nighttime or daytime data; Unit: NA
There are no empty cells in this table
File: Fig5.csv
Description: A predicted effect of seismic exposure on CM at 38 kHz over distance and SPL from the WBAT to the seismic vessel.
Variables
- fit: Raw values; Unit: m
- se.fit: Standard error; Unit: m
- Value_Pre: Predicted values; Unit: m
- uprP: Upper confidence intervals; Unit: m
- lwrP: Lower confidence intervals; Unit: m
- uprS: Upper confidence intervals; Unit: m
- lwrS: Lower confidence intervals; Unit: m
- Distance_Obs: Real distance from the seismic vessel to AMAR; Unit: km
- COM_Converted_Ob: Converted COM values due to AMAR looked upward; Unit: m
- Cat: Category: distance and SPL; Unit: NA
Empty cells in this table are not applicable
File: Fig6.csv
Description: The effect of seismic exposure on target strength, speed, and change in depth of single individuals tracked over consecutive pings in relation to the distance from the seismic vessel.
Variables
- Distance: Distance from the seismic vessel to the AMAR; Unit: km
- Value: values of target strength, speed, and change in depth of single individuals tracked; Unit: target strength (dB re 1m2), speed (m/s), and change in depth (m)
- pred: Predicted values of target strength, speed, and change in depth of single individuals tracked; Unit: target strength (dB re 1m2), speed (m/s), and change in depth (m)
- lwr: Lower confidence intervals; Unit: target strength (dB re 1m2), speed (m/s), and change in depth (m)
- upr: Upper confidence intervals; Unit: target strength (dB re 1m2), speed (m/s), and change in depth (m)
- Variable: target strength, speed, and change in depth; Unit: target strength (dB re 1m2), speed (m/s), and change in depth (m)
- Dat: Daytime and nighttime; Unit: NA
There are no empty cells in this table
File: Fig7.csv
Description: The effect of seismic exposure on NASC, CM, PO, and AI for 38 kHz and 333 kHz during the day and night over the range of sound exposure levels at the WBAT.
Variables
- SPL: SPL values; Unit: dB re 1μPa²
- Value: Values of NASC, CM, PO, and AI; Unit: NASC (m2/nmi2), CM (m), PO (%), and AI (m-1)
- pred: Predicted values of NASC, CM, PO, and AI; Unit: NASC (m2/nmi2), CM (m), PO (%), and AI (m-1)
- lwr: Lower confidence intervals; Unit: NASC (m2/nmi2), CM (m), PO (%), and AI (m-1)
- upr: Upper confidence intervals; Unit: NASC (m2/nmi2), CM (m), PO (%), and AI (m-1)
- Veriable: Variables of NASC, CM, PO, and AI; Unit: NASC (m2/nmi2), CM (m), PO (%), and AI (m-1)
- Frequency: Transducer of 38kHz and 333kHz; Unit: NASC (m2/nmi2), CM (m), PO (%), and AI (m-1)
- Dat: Daytime and nighttime data; Unit: NA
There are no empty cells in this table
File: Fig8.csv
Description: Comparison of CM for 38 kHz transducer for daytime and nighttime data between ambient area (<120 dB re 1μPa²) vs intensive noise area (≥120 dB re 1μPa²).
Variables
- Dat: Daytime and nighttime; Unit: NA
- Level: Noise levels (>=120dB and <120dB); Unit: dB re 1μPa²
- COM_Converted: CM values; Unit: m
There are no empty cells in this table
Code/software
Codes for all analyses can be provided by the corresponding author (Khanh.Nguyen@dfo-mpo.gc.ca)
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data:
- NA
Data was derived from the following sources:
- NA
Data was collected using Autonomous Multichannel Acoustic Recorder and upward-looking Wideband Autonomous Transceiver coorrdinating with commercial seismic surveying