Document Reference Number: 447 Howe Sound Woodfibre noise

I am writing again, as a new study has come to light, getting much press in English language media, such as the Guardian and BBC, the New York Times and the like.

This is the study published in Current Biology by graduate student Pernille Sorensen.

In case you are unfamiliar with the study, I will quote from the article in the Guardian highlighting this study;

“When increasing levels of noise were played from an underwater speaker, both dolphins compensated by changing the volume and length of their calls to coordinate the button press. Nevertheless, they could not entirely compensate. From the lowest to highest levels of noise, the dolphins’ success rate dropped from 85% to 62.5%, according to the research.

The dolphins also changed their body language, reorienting themselves to face each other more frequently at higher noise levels and swimming across the lagoon to be closer to each other.

The highest noise levels were comparable with what are sometimes experienced in marine environments as a result of shipping and drilling.

“Despite their attempts to compensate, despite being highly motivated and the fact that they know this cooperative task so well, the noise still impaired their ability to successfully coordinate,” said Sørensen.”

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“ In September 2020, Australia experienced the largest whale stranding recorded in history (https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2F2022%2Fsep%2F24%2Ftasmanias-whale-stranding-what-caused-it-and-can-it-be-stopped-in-the-future&data=05%7C01%7Cconditions%40iaac-aeic.gc.ca%7C00838d503c4248ecc19508db032ed9e1%7C35d07687f4f24fbc8b3efa87a26b3b7b%7C0%7C0%7C638107271979041505%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=JUvuW4VnYdxLMKBGx%2BGoF%2FEUI4uDkO%2BtbLP7xBRY5cA%3D&reserved=0) in which 450 pilot whales were found washed up on the west coast of Tasmania, most of which had to be euthanised due to their low chance of survival. Some linked the mass stranding to underwater noise pollution.

Another recent study found that when narwhals are exposed to seismic air guns, used for surveying in the oil and gas industry, they immediately begin diving to escape from the noise. These high-intensity dives use much more energy than normal and put the marine mammals’ health at risk, scientists said.”

Please halt all construction and harm to the creatures of Howe Sound.

Julie Vik

Bowen Island BC

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