Environmental group: Whales, dolphins at risk from blasts

A nonprofit ocean advocacy group released new animated maps this week that show the most dangerous zones for dolphins and whales, threatened by proposed seismic airgun blasting used for oil and gas exploration in the Atlantic Ocean.

The maps, based on research from Duke University’s Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, draw from more than two decades of data on bottlenose dolphins and endangered humpback, fin and sperm whales in the South Atlantic Ocean. Oceana overlaid that information with the proposed areas for seismic airgun surveys to explore for oil and gas.

"We hope this shows that these animals are everywhere," said Dustrin Cranor, a spokesman for Oceana, "So the recommendations on closures to protect these species simply won't work."

Endangered right whales were not included on the map because there are only an estimated 400 to 500 remaining.

The maps can be found at www.oceana.org/BlastZone.

Between 1966 and 1988, the energy industry gathered two-dimensional surveys of the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf. But industry officials say new technology could provide much improved three-dimensional surveys of potential oil and gas deposit areas.

The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management plans to allow seismic surveys from just south of Cape Canaveral to Delaware in federal waters, from three to 350 nautical miles out to sea, an area about double the size of California. But the geological surveys and impacts could cross into state waters closer to shore as well.

Oceana cites government estimates that seismic airgun blasting could injure as many as 138,000 whales and dolphins, while disturbing millions more.

“These maps confirm what we’ve long feared, that dolphins and whales along the East Coast are at risk from dangerous seismic airgun blasting for oil and gas,” said Claire Douglass, campaign director at Oceana. “Hearing that whales and dolphins could be injured is one thing, but seeing the scale of the threat is another. President Obama should stop seismic airgun blasting and protect our coast.”

Airguns used in the seismic surveys can cause hearing loss and mask mating calls and other biologically important sound for whales, dolphins, fish and other wildlife.

Most research on the issue revolves around sound impacts on marine mammals. The impacts on sea turtles are less clear. Sea turtles don't have ear drums or external ears, but their auditory sense is adapted to vibrations in the water.

A federal environmental study of the proposed seismic surveys includes several alternatives for ways to avoid harming wildlife. Proposals include closing certain offshore areas to seismic surveying during the main sea turtle nesting season and during right whale migration.

But Oceana says that won't adequately protect the right whale's migratory corridor and nursery areas. They also say the government failed to consider safer alternative technologies.

Fish expert sounds off on seismic surveys

Last year, 75 marine scientists sent a letter to President Barack Obama on the impacts of seismic airgun blasting in the Atlantic, expressing concerns that seismic airgun tests could cause widespread impacts on the reproduction and survival of fish and marine mammal populations, including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.

More than 150 state representatives in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia recently sent letters to President Barack Obama urging him to oppose the seismic testing in the Atlantic.

The proposed Atlantic Seismic Airgun Protection Act would establish a moratorium on seismic airgun testing related to oil and gas exploration along the East Coast.

“We already know that the noise from seismic airguns is especially concerning for marine life, including fish, turtles, whales and dolphins, which depend on sound for communication and survival,” said Dr. Ingrid Biedron, marine scientist at Oceana. “The noise from these blasts is so loud that it can be heard up to 2,500 miles from the source, which is approximately the distance from Washington, DC to Las Vegas.”

Contact Waymer at 321-242-3663 or jwaymer@floridatoday.com Follow him on Twitter@JWayEnviro and at facebook.com/jim.waymer

To access the animated maps and more information about proposed seismic airgun blasting in the Atlantic, please visit www.oceana.org/BlastZone.