Deployment of archival tags for acoustic and behavioural data on St. Lawrence Estuary beluga

BACKGROUND: The St. Lawrence Estuary population of beluga is a species at risk, which is exposed to chronic vessel noise. DFO, in the context of the Oceans Protection Plan, needs to better understand the degree of exposure of beluga to noise, and its impacts on beluga and its health. The current project aims at fulfilling these needs. OBJECTIVES: Provide a vessel perceived as relatively quiet by beluga, the material (acoustic and behavioural archival tags of D-tag type, material for VHF radio telemetry) and expert man power (specialist for approaching this species at close distance and deploying archival tags) for the deployment of archival tags on the back of beluga, as well for the acquisition of information on behaviour, herds and behavioural context, as per the instructions provided by the Department representative.