RIASSUNTO
Abstract
There are increasing concerns about potential impacts from anthropogenic sound on marine mammals and marine life, including sounds generated by oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) operations. The scientific understanding of the potential impacts of anthropogenic sound has expanded significantly in the last two decades as the issue has gained public attention and research prioritization, but important gaps in knowledge still exist. The complexity of the ocean environment, the variety of species, and the different types of sounds generated by E&P operations make it difficult to generalize about what impacts, if any, E&P sounds have on marine mammals and marine life. Seismic surveys (including near surface, shallow hazard surveys) have so far received the most scrutiny. Legitimate concerns also exist regarding sounds produced by other E&P operations such as subsea processing and production equipment, pipeline dredging, construction operations (especially those involving pile-driving), and even traffic from helicopters and service and supply vessels.
Although fewer today, the remaining gaps in knowledge mean the E&P industry often cannot characterize with sufficient certainty what impacts, if any, are caused by sounds produced from E&P operations, nor can we demonstrate with scientifically verified knowledge that potential impacts are biologically insignificant. As a result, governments are increasingly taking a precautionary approach, thus requiring the management of sounds from E&P operations based on the assumption these sounds cause significant negative impacts on marine mammals and marine life. This precautionary management of sounds from E&P operations has become a significant issue for the E&P industry.
In order to responsibly and effectively manage the sound and marine life (SML) issue, E&P industry personnel need to understand the issue and its importance as well as how it effects E&P industry activities. Recent experiences illustrate the many challenges our industry faces in globally managing the SML issue. The E&P industry's response to the SML issue, including key recent developments and areas for improvement based on lessons learned, will be presented.
Introduction
By virtue of sovereign rights and through the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, it is universally accepted that coastal nations have the right to develop natural resources within the boundaries of their Exclusive Economic Zones. International values encourage that coastal nations ensure any development is pursued in a manner that is respectful and protective of the environment.
There are increasing concerns about potential impacts from anthropogenic sound on marine mammals, marine life and their ecosystems (Marine Life). Including speculative and possible impacts, potential impacts on Marine Life from anthropogenic sounds (including those sounds generated by oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) operations) may include behavioral effects, physical injury and/or mortality (NRC 2005). In a growing number of cases the governments of coastal nations are requiring the inclusion of anthropogenic sound in their environmental and risk assessments. And whether or not warranted by environmental and risk assessments, coastal nation governments are increasingly requiring operational mitigations to minimize the potential for biologically significant impacts on Marine Life from sound producing activities (OGP and IAGC. 2004; Tsoflias and Gill. 2008).