Ocean Seismic Survey Airgun Killed 2/3rds Of Plankton In Study, Including 100% Of Krill Larvae

[hatrack]

The microscopic animals that provide food for fisheries face previously unknown threats along America’s southern and eastern seaboards, and in oceans elsewhere, with new research warning of the potential for heavy impacts from oil surveys that blast noise into the sea. Scientists in the Australian island state of Tasmania have added krill larvae and other plankton to the growing list of animals known to be affected by airguns trawled behind ships in search of oil reserves, earthquake faults and other buried features.

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Semmens was part of a team that wanted to know how plankton are being affected, so they fired a 140-pound, 23-inch airgun into Storm Bay near Australia’s southernmost point. Airguns compress air then explosively release it, with reflections from the loud pulse monitored for clues as to what lies beneath the ocean floor. With the aid of sonar, the scientists detected what they called a “hole” blown through patches of plankton. Sampling after airgun firings during mile-long sweeps with nets retrieved two-thirds fewer plankton, with many of the microscopic animals found dead — including all krill larvae.

The proposed Atlantic surveys would see arrays of airguns trawled by surveying companies up to 350 miles from the coast, fired every 10 seconds or so around the clock for up to a year. The new research suggests the proposal threatens to reduce the amount of food in the sea, as well as directly harm dolphins and other creatures.

Seismic surveys using large arrays of more powerful airguns than those used by the scientists are undertaken off the heavily drilled Gulf Coast, from Texas to Florida. As the Trump administration moves to open West Coast and Alaskan waters for new oil drilling, including inside marine sanctuaries, surveys would also be expected there.

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Ed. Oh, great fucking idea, let's go straght for the base of the food chain so that we can save five cents fueling our Testosterone Shitwagons!

http://www.climatecentral.org/news/atlantic-oil-surveys-could-kill-food-fisheries-21561

[riversedge]

1. good lord!! Trump wants to drill --"including inside marine sanctuaries"

I did not know that the new drilling would include these sanctuaries. !! This is horrible.


....Seismic surveys using large arrays of more powerful airguns than those used by the scientists are undertaken off the heavily drilled Gulf Coast, from Texas to Florida. As the Trump administration moves to open West Coast and Alaskan waters for new oil drilling, including inside marine sanctuaries, surveys would also be expected there.