SpawnSeis: Effects of seismic sound on spawning behaviour and reproductive sucsess of cod
About the project
Impact may vary between species and live stages. This project target cod (Gadus morhua), a widely distributed and important species throughout the Atlantic ocean, with hearing range and sound production overlapping with seismic airguns, as well as spawning sites located in the central north sea where the majority of the seismic activity are conducted, thus causing a major management challenge.
Important spawning sites in Lofoten also makes it highly relevant in terms of assessing potential oil exploitation. Successful reproduction are essential for stock recruitment, and sound production and hearing are essential during cod spawning, as successful mating relies on vacillation to time release of spawning products. Spawning may hence be impacted in terms of a) hampered vocalization/masking or b) avoidance of spawning site due to exposure. This project will explore both vocal behavior and movement in time and space, as well as investigate the quality of spawning products in exposed and control groups. Exposure will be done with a downscaled air gun.
We will work in close collaboration with a large international consortium targeting to asess the population level effects of seismic exposure on cod. This will contribute to exchange ideas, experience and results.
Project results are directly applicable into management of fish stocks during seismic surveys, and results obtained will be used to define mitigation to minimizing impact of seismic surveys on fish, but avoiding unnecessary mitigation restrictions, aiming at a better coexistence between the fishery and oil industry
Understand potential impact of sound exposure from seismic air guns on spawning behaviour and reproductive behaviour of cod.
a) Compare fertilization rate, number of eggs and batches spawned between exposed and non-exposed cod throughout a spawning season.
b) Further study the developement, growth and hatching of cod eggs under exposure to evaluate long term effects.
c) Investigate how seismic exposure affect horisontal and vertical distribution of free living cod during the spawning season, including potential avoidance in time and space of young and adult fish.
d) Provide knowledge to improve scientific advice to management and regulatory bodies.
This Project is funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN) (MARINFORSK) through the Institute of Marine Research
UiO Project Number: 190781
The SpawnSeis project will be led by Institute of Marine research (IMR) and conducted in cooperation with national and international experts, and conducted in close collaboration with an international expert consortium (PCADforCod) led by Prof. Hans Slabbekoorn (Leiden University), targeting to develop a population consequence framework for how seismic exposure may affect cod on the population level, including telemetry studies of free ranging fish in other phases than spawning. Dr. Sivle and Dr. Skjæraasen are also involved in this consortium. These projects will mutually benefit from sharing of results, ideas and expertise, thus ensuring cooperation with international experts.
26.02.2018 - 31.10.2021
- Karen de Jong; Tonje Nesse Forland; Maria Clara P. Amorim; Guillaume Rieucau; Hans Slabbekoorn & Lise Doksæter Sivle (2020). Predicting the effects of anthropogenic noise on fish reproduction. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries. ISSN 0960-3166. 30, s 245- 268
- Daniel Nyqvist; Tonje Nesse Forland; Lise Doksæter Sivle; Caroline Durif; Magnar Gullikstad Johnsen & Karen de Jong (2019). Electric and magnetic senses in marine animals , and potential effects of electromagnetic surveys.
- Karen de Jong (2019). Fiskelyd og reproduksjon og menneskeskapt støy.
- Lise Doksæter Sivle; Karen de Jong; Daniel Nyqvist & Reidun Marie Bjelland (2019). Informasjonsmøte - Telemetri og torsk på Austevoll.
- Daniel Nyqvist; Lise Doksæter Sivle; Ørjan Karlsen; Esben Moland Olsen; Karen de Jong; Tonje Nesse Forland & Jon Egil Skjæraasen (2019). Do seismic surveys affect the behavior of spawning cod?.
- Daniel Nyqvist; Lise Doksæter Sivle; Ørjan Karlsen; Esben Moland Olsen; Karen de Jong; Tonje Nesse Forland & Jon Egil Skjæraasen (2019). Behaviour of spawning cod in relation to marine seismic surveys.
- Karen de Jong; Tonje Nesse Forland; M. Clara P. Amorim; Guillaume Rieucau; Hans Slabbekoorn & Lise Doksæter Sivle (2019). Integrating existing knowledge to predict effects of anthropogenic noise on fish reproduction.
- Karen de Jong; Tonje Nesse Forland; M. Clara P. Amorim; Guillaume Rieucau; Hans Slabbekoorn & Lise Doksæter Sivle (2019). How could we predict effects of noise on fish reproduction.
- (2019). Her ror forskerne frem og tilbake i fjorden mens de utsetter torsk for seismikk.
- (2019). Testar seismikk på gytetorsk.
- Karen de Jong; Tonje Nesse Forland; Daniel Nyqvist & Lise Doksæter Sivle (2018). Konsekvenser av seismikk.
- Karen de Jong; Tonje Nesse Forland; Daniel Nyqvist & Lise Doksæter Sivle (2018). The SpawnSeis-project. Testing the impact of seismic sound on spawning cod.
- (2018). Skal testa seismikk i Austevoll.