Deployment and operation of an digital acoustic recorder buoy for whale detection and ambient underwater noise assessment in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, BC.

The objective of the work proposed in this contract is to test a mobile technology for detecting and tracking whales and making calibrated noise measurements in near real time in a key location in Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) critical habitat in the Strait of Juan de Fuca off the West Coast of Vancouver Island. The goal is to evaluate the system as a potential mobile alert tool for mitigating threats, mainly physical and acoustic disturbance due to vessels. The project area was subject to SRKW interim spatial management measures, which have been implemented by the Government of Canada under the authorities of DFO and Transport Canada in 2018, 2019, and 2020. These management measures restrict vessel usage and fishing activity in SRKW foraging areas with the aim at reducing key threats of disturbance as well as increasing prey accessibility. The results of this contract will provide information on SRKW area use and underwater noise levels from vessels during periods when the special management measures are not in place that will be used to assess the impact in particular of small vessels on SRKW and other marine mammals and to help inform future management measures.