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HK Nuuttila, CM Bertelli, CD Lowe
SEACAMS, Department of Biosciences, University of Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, [email protected]
SEACAMS (Sustainable Expansion of the Applied Coastal and Marine Sectors) is a research initiative linking academia and science
with Welsh businesses, funded by the Welsh Government and the EU. The SEACAMS Marine Mammal Ecology team has focused
on the needs of marine renewable energy (MRE) industries to meet regulatory requirements and fulfilling knowledge gaps by
providing assistance and advice on:
• Site characterisation for species diversity, abundance , distribution
and habitat use in proposed MRE sites
• Designing marine mammal surveys using visual and acoustic
techniques for both pinnipeds and cetaceans
• Trialling novel survey techniques for fixed vantage point surveys
• Conducting a feasibility study for an acoustic monitoring
programme for a proposed MRE site
• Collating and reviewing published marine mammal monitoring
guidelines for wave and tidal energy sites
• Developing novel ways to monitor cetaceans at high energy sites
using floating hydrophone arrays
Floating hydrophone array to
localise animals
Binocular and camera mount for
fixed vantage point surveys
The study was set up to trial the use of static acoustic data loggers
(C-PODs) at a high tidal range environment. This included
equipment calibration, site selection, mooring trials and initial data
analysis.
Biofouling of traditional
mooring gear of ropes and
surface markers
Acoustic release system without
surface markers reduces the risk
of entanglement and loss of gear
Trialling different types of mooring
gear and deployment methods to
find out most effective and practical
and safest way to collate static
acoustic monitoring data.
Drawing and photographs of a pre-survey
calibration set up for C-PODs
Results of a calibration study portraying
correlation between different logger units
Results of a pilot study will assist developer to design practical and feasible monitoring studies for MRE sites
Average DPM/hr
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Hour of the day
Frequency of acoustic encounters depicting
porpoise presence across the diel cycle
Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
presence in an area is likely affected by
number of variables, including tidal, diel and
seasonal cycles. These graphs are results
from a pilot deployment, which will lead
into a more comprehensive study and
dataset which can be used to inform the
developer’s Adaptive Monitoring Plan.
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Mumbles East
Mumbles West
Outfall East
Outfall West
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Average DPM/hr
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Hour from High Water
Frequency of acoustic encounters depicting
porpoise presence across the tidal cycle at
different monitoring locations
Acknowledgements:
Keith Naylor, Kam Tang, Ian Tew, Anouska Mendzil, Christine Gray, Jake Scolding, (Biosciences Dpt., Swansea University Merin Broudic (LCRI), A Cottet-Emard (LCRI ECN), Gill Lock (Tidal
Lagoon Swansea Bay), Chris Williams (Tidal Energy Limited), Cara Donovan (Marine Current Turbines), Powell Strong (Pembrokeshire College)