I have been busy, so i haven't been on lately, here is a little of what concerns me as it affects everyone if you see something wrong do something about it, don't let it continue.
We are presently in talks to encourage a total band be our answer to the use of Seismic Surveying is unwanted as it is only benefiting the wealthy.
Oil and Gas is an old alternative power source, that we need to look to other alternative methods of power generation that is not destructive upon living Land species/Marine Mammals, Environment Conservation, Human Health and the unknown who are affected.
The following is an insight to the environmental issues that Maaori People of Aotearoa New Zealand are presently dealing with and we intend to fight for Seismic Surveying be band as it is devastating to all marine mammals.
It will put local fisherman at risk because of stocks being decimated from the use of the oil and gas finder.
Effects on Marine Mammals
The effects of seismic surveying on marine mammals are noteworthy. As most terrestrial animals rely principally on the sense of sight, marine mammals use hearing as their principle sense. Marine mammals use sound to find food, find migratory paths, communicate and avoid predators. Researchers have documented that the sound intensity generated by seismic surveys alters whale and dolphin behavior. According to the Alaska Marine Conservation Council, "Numerous scientific studies have solidified what Eskimo subsistence hunters have known for years: that whales avoid expansive areas where seismic surveys are being conducted."
Seismic Survey involve the generation of sound waves to measure underground structures.
Hydrographic survey vessels also conduct Seismic Surveys of the seabed and the underlying geology.
The information gathered is useful for detecting geological features which are likely to bear oil or gas deposits.
· Biological echo location – Dolphins, Whales and bats use echolocation to detect prey and avoid obstacles as they navigate their environment
· Echo sound is listening to the echo of sound pulses to measure the distance to the bottom of the sea
· Sonar is Sound Navigation and Ranging
Hearing sensitivity:
· The lowest audible SPL for a human diver with normal hearing is 67 dB re 1 uPa, with the greatest sensitivity occurring at frequencies around 1kHz.
Aquatic Life hearing sensitivity:
· Dolphins and other toothed whales are renowned for their acute hearing sensitivity, especially in the frequency range 5 to 50 kHz.
· Several species have hearing thresholds between 30 and 50 dB re 1 uPa in this frequency range
· The hearing threshold of the killer whale occurs at an RMS acoustic pressure of 0.02 mPa (and frequency 15 kHz) corresponding to an SPL threshold of 26 dB re 1 uPa
· The most sensitive fish is the soldier fish that the scientific world are aware of, whose threshold is 0.32 mPa (50 dB re 1 uPa) at 1.3 kHz
· The lobster has a hearing threshold of 1.3 Pa at 70 Hz (122 dB re 1 uPa)
Hazardous:
The in balance in being able to procreate for the future of marine aquatic live stock to be able to replenish itself will be destructively decimated due to Seismic Survey as its exposure will be hazardous to Marine fish stocks.
Summer is the time for breeding and it’s the best time for Seismic Surveys to be undertaken but the babies, parent’s disruption to breed will incur an interruption into the cycle of mating and cause fish stock volumes depletion.
Marine mammals and Divers:
· High level of underwater sound creates a potential hazard to marine and amphibious animals as well as to human divers.
· Human Divers exposed to SPL above 154 dB re 1 uPa in the frequency range 0.6 to 2.5 kHz are reported to experience detrimental damage to themselves
· Divers: Changes in their heart rate or breathing frequency damages their physical wellbeing
· Divers aversion to low frequency sound is dependent upon sound pressure level and center frequency
Seismic Survey Exploration involves the use of low frequency sound (<100 Hz) to probe deep into the seabed and Sound sources used include airguns, vibroseis/vibration and explosives.
There are guidelines for exposure of human divers and marine mammals to underwater sound are reported to SOLMAR project of the NATO Undersea Research Centre.
I hope you found this interesting and if you have anything to say please do.
We are also going against the introduction of Grass Carp and Silver Carp into our waterways, and its nature is to eat all vegetation and it also eats other species until it decimates the indigenous species.
Silver Carp is known to fly/jump out of the water and even injure fisherman and others.
I will tell you more as i go
auntycc