### Summary: May 2003 Southern Resident Killer Whale Vessel Interaction Workshop

**[Background]{.underline}**

Participants were tasked to identify research questions relevant to the
effects of vessel noise, vessel presence, and any other possible effects
of vessels on Southern Resident killer whales. The criteria for
questions were:

1)  Does this question significantly move us ahead in understanding the
    effects of vessels on survivorship or reproductive success of
    Southern Resident killer whales?

2)  Have the financial constraints, as outlined by NMFS, been
    considered?

3)  Is the research able to begin this summer?

4)  Do permits exist to do the work?

5)  Is there logistical support in place to accomplish the work?

During the brainstorm session, a large list of research questions was
generated. All participants voted on what they felt were the most
important research questions from that large list. Based on the number
of votes, three key (highest priority) research questions were chosen.
Three groups of participants were formed to develop the key research
questions with refined detail, including possible methods to address
each question.

In what follows, we first present the three key (highest priority)
research questions resulting from the SRKW Vessel Interaction Workshop
(a summary of the discussion on methods for each of the three key
research questions is at the end of the document). Following the list of
highest priority questions, we present the large list of research
questions formulated by all participants. The vessel interaction
questions are divided into two specific categories: 1) Acoustics and 2)
Behavior and Energetics. We did not omit any of the research questions
identified, but we did combine related questions and omit any redundant
questions presented by multiple participants.

**[Final Three Key (Highest Priority According to the Criteria) Research
Questions Resulting from the Vessel Interaction Workshop]{.underline}**

[Acoustics]{.underline}

1\. *What are the baseline acoustic conditions and spectral
characteristics of vessel noise and its propagation in SR resident
habitat, for the purpose predicting received levels under varying
conditions and the contributions from multiple vessels?*

[Behavior and Energetics]{.underline}

2\. *How are habitat use and behavioral energetics of SR pods affected
by vessel activity?*

3\. *How do vessels affect killer whales' ability to forage?*

**[Vessel Interactions (Acoustics) Questions]{.underline}**

1\) What are sources of vessel noise throughout Puget Sound (not just
whale watchers)

2\) How much noise do vessels make?

3\) What acoustic exposure are whales really getting?

4\) What sources of noise most likely affect SR reproduction, survival
etc.?

5\) What are vessel operation practices and distances that minimize
impact to whales?

6\) What are the energetic costs of behaviors in response to vessel
noise?

a\) Any differences between pods?

b\) What do these energetic costs mean in terms of prey (i.e. "salmon
units")?

7\) Does vessel noise presence affect males and juveniles different than
females?

8\) Have the whales habituated to vessel noise?

a\) Do they behaviorally adapt ad-hoc to vessel noise?

9\) Measure and establish baseline sound levels in area to attempt to
measure sound zones at animals.

10\) Is vessel noise exceeding thresholds of definable zones?

11\) Is vessel noise exceeding thresholds of definable zones?

12\) What is historical change of noise levels over time calibrated
calculation curve? Time frames for cumulative acoustic inputs (time/day/
week/ month, etc)

13\) What is it about boats that affect whales?

a\) Noise?

b\) Type?

c\) Distance?

d\) Size?

e\) Direction?

f\) Pollution?

g\) Scaring prey?

14\) How do presumed prey respond to noise levels?

15\) Sonar target strengths of prey, ssp?

16\) What are energy and echolocation outputs of whales around vessel
noise?

17\) What are the directional characteristics of hearing and
echolocation?

18\) What are the mechanisms affecting population impact?

19\) Can we define zones of masking and zones of hearing damage for the
whales?

20\) What effect do military activities, in particular vessel noise,
have on Southern Resident killer whales, especially L Pod?

[^1]*What are the baseline acoustic conditions and spectral
characteristics of vessel noise and its propagation in SR resident
habitat, for the purpose predicting received levels under varying
conditions and the contributions from multiple vessels?*

**[Vessel Interactions (Behavior and Energetics)
Questions]{.underline}**

1\) How do vessels affect whales' ability to forage?

2\) Are there changes in social call patterns in the presence of
vessels?

3\) What are vessel operation practices and distances that minimize
impact to whales?

4\) What are the vessel effects on behavior within pods and social
behavior within and between pods?

5\) What is it about boats that affect whales?

a\) Noise?

b\) Type?

c\) Distance?

d\) Size?

e\) Direction?

f\) Pollution?

g\) Scaring prey?

6\) What are the vessel interactions outside of Puget Sound?

7\) What are the behavioral responses of whales to vessels underwater?

8\) Do boats block surface access for the whales, especially kayaks?

9\) How do SRKWs respond to exposure?

a\) Behaviors?

b\) Vocalizations?

10\) What are the mechanisms affecting population impact?

11\) What are the energetic costs of behaviors in response to boat
presence?

a\) Any differences between pods?

b\) What do these energetic costs mean in terms of prey (i.e. "salmon
units")?

12\) Can we measure the stress response in killer whales (individual
variation in stress - hormone levels using fecal samples)?

a\) Are juveniles or males may be more stressed in terms of energetics
within a pod, and can we measure that?

b\) How do measured stress levels affect physiology, fertility, etc

13\) If there are any changes in swimming directionality and speed, or
vocalization roles\...how to apply to population levels?

14\) What effect do military activities, in particular vessel presence,
have on Southern Resident killer whales, especially L Pod?

15\) What are energy and echolocation outputs of whales around vessels?

16\) How does basic biology (diet, winter range), affect what and how
many boats the animals interact with? Can we refine spatial assessment
of whale watching exposure?

17\) How does vessel traffic overlap with SR habitat use (GIS approach),
and can we define critical habitat?

18\) Have the whales habituated to vessel presence?

a\) Do they behaviorally adapt ad-hoc to vessel activity?

[^2]*How are habitat use and behavioral energetics of SR pods affected
by vessel activity?*

[^3]*How do vessels affect killer whales' ability to forage?*

**[Key Research Questions Developed Further]{.underline}**

**Vessel Interactions (Acoustics) Question: *What are the baseline
acoustic conditions and spectral characteristics of vessel noise and its
propagation in SR resident habitat, for the purpose predicting received
levels under varying conditions and the contributions from multiple
vessels?***

**1. Lists of Available Data Sets**

Not addressed

**2. Data Gaps**

a\) Calibration

b\) Vertical sound distribution

c\) Vessel specs and vessel operations

d\) Sound speed profile

e\) Bathymetry

f\) Model development

g\) Testing of multi-source models

**3. Studies On-Going Planned/Published**

a\) Erbe study

b\) Seasound

c\) Oval

d\) Ed Gerstein and Joe Blues small engine studies

e\) CTD profiles

f\) Acoustic tomography

**4. Possible Methods/Approaches**

a\) Calibrated vertical array

\- Calibrated sound sources

b\) Use existing hydrophones

i\. vessel

ii\. fixed

c\) Use towed array (at rest)

i\. Sample different areas -- S. Sound, Haro Strait, Fraser River

d\) Sonobuoys -- limited dynamic range

**5. Suggested Order of Work and Methods**

a\) How will it happen?

i\. Permits for sonar operation -- US? Canada?

ii\. Sampling vessels -- can work for small boats

iii\. Run source at existing levels

iv\. Run ships past hydrophones

v\. Build models

b\) Baseline observations need to include:

i\. Ambient noise -- spectra, time envelope at various depths

ii.Sources -- calibrated

iii.Background -- w/o boats (waves, rain, ...distant boats)

iv\. Propagation (frequency and distance)

v.Vessel measurements (propeller details, tip speed)

vi.Vertical profile of sound speed

vii\. Bathymetry

c\) Constraints

i\. Need to measure speed of sound to 100m or deeper

ii\. Seasonal

iii\. Weather

iv\. Currents

v\. Site-specific challenges

vi.Vessel management

**[Key Research Questions Developed Further]{.underline}**

**Vessel Interactions (Behavior and Energetics):** ***How are habitat
use and behavioral energetics of SR pods affected by vessel activity?***

**1. Lists of Available Data Sets**

a\) Sightings of SRKWs (1985 - present) year round by season and pod (no
information on individuals or pods) (no behavioral data)

b\) Sighting of SR's (1996 - present May- Sept). San Juan Island region.
Individual pods but no behavioral data. Not whether all L pod is there.
Effort estimate by number of Whale Watch vessels (GIS)

c\) Center for Whale research: lat/ long, behavior, pod, (no vessel
data). Individual raw. 13 years/ 15 minutes observations of behavior/
computerized location on chart

d\) (1977 -83) -Boran / Osborne behavioral budgets spatial by pods. San
Juan Island (apple old format - lost in space!)

e\) Shore-based (Otis 1990-present; Smith 1999-2001).

f\) Soundwatch data (1996-present)

g\) Kriete's energetic measures/activity

h\) Data sets are: Pod/ Individual, Space, Vessel, Behavior

**2. Data Gaps**

a\) Where whales were not seen

b\) Vessel Data

i\. winter time

ii\. non-San Juan; primarily Puget Sound

c\) Systematic coverage (spatial & temporal)

d\) Consistency in behavioral classification

e\) Consistency in behavioral sampling

**3. Studies On-Going planned/published**

a\) UW study summer 2003

b\) Osborne, 1986 (Behavioral Biol.)

c\) Boran, 1988 (Can J. Z.)

d\) Felleman et al, 1991 (Norris and Pryor)

e\) Kriete (1995 UBC thesis)

f\) Williams (2002 a&b; Can.J. Zool.)

g\) Osborne (1999 thesis Uvic.)

h\) Williams in prep

**4. Possible Methods/Approaches**

a\) Shore based observations- time series of behavioral data

Pro: control (no vessels)

cheap

Con: limited spatial coverage

level of detail limited to surface (2D)

b\) Designed -based survey

Pro: reduced bias

better explanatory power

Con: spend time sampling where no whales are present

can be expensive

c\) Experimental approaches

i\. exclusion zones

ii\. controlled vessel maneuvers

d\) Focal follows

e\) Trained observers (behaviors, habitat use) on whale watching boats

f\) Add behavior category to Sound Watch data collection form

g\) Day and nighttime observations because energy budgets may be
different

h\) Extensive (GIS mapping) Spatial modeling, including all categories
on a temporal

(ID critical habitat)

i\. historical

ii.designed survey

i\) Aerial Survey (Photos, designed based), get a spatial/ temporal
changes in vessel distribution (link to #2)

j\) Method to translate behavior and habitat use into energetics

k\) Collect additional diving metabolic rates information (Captive
Animals)

l\) Synthesize and analyze new and existing data to construct a map of
use and behavior

(in those areas)

m\) 3D use of habitat/ transmitter tags on animals

n\) Acoustical observation (Navy help?)

o\) Use of general public/ motivated volunteers to collect opportunistic
data

**5. Suggested Order of Work and Methods**

a\) Temporal and spatial distribution of whales and boats to determine
overlap

i\. Extensive modeling (GIS mapping), including all categories on a
temporal and

spatial scale to construct a map of use and behavior (ID critical
habitat)

\- Historical data

\- Designed-based survey (i.e. Aerial Survey photos - get a spatial/
temporal changes in vessel distribution) - Pro: reduced bias, better
explanatory power, Con: spend time sampling where no whales are present,
can be expensive

ii\. 3D use of habitat via transmitter tags on killer whales

iii\. Acoustical observation (Navy help?)

iv\. Use of general public/ motivated volunteers to collect
opportunistic data

b\) Determine effects of boat interactions on killer whales via
extensive behavioral observations and data collection on time and energy
budgets to determine how vessel

interactions affect whales' daily time and energy budgets

i\. Shore based observations- time series of behavioral data

*Pro:* control (no vessels), cheap

*Con:* limited spatial coverage, level of detail limited to surface (2D)

ii\. Experimental approaches

\- exclusion zones

\- controlled vessel maneuvers

iii\. Focal follows

iv\. Trained observers (behaviors, habitat use) on whale watching boats

v\. Add behavior category to Sound Watch data collection form

vi\. Day and nighttime observations because energy budgets may be
different

c\) Determine energetic costs of vessel interactions to killer whales

i\. Translate behavior and habitat use data into energetics using
previously published metabolic rate values for killer whales at
different activity levels

ii\. Collect additional metabolic rate data from captive animals (e.g.
diving MR)

**[Key Research Questions Developed Further]{.underline}**

**Vessel Interactions (Behavior and Energetics) Question: *How do
vessels affect whales' ability to forage?***

**1. Lists of Available Data Sets**

a\) Masking Study (N. Resident, captive, N. Atlantic kw)

b\) Directionality of hearing and echolocation

c\) Shortened foraging bouts --\> less likely to start foraging after
vessel approach (N.Res.)

d\) Acoustic tagging (other marine mammals)

e\) Sonar monitoring of underwater foraging activity (spinner dolphins)

**2. Data Gaps**

a\) Differences in whales' ability to locate and capture prey in
presence and absence of

vessels, e.g. proportion of time spent foraging

b\) Analysis of existing data of click intervals and acoustic
characteristics in different noise settings

**3. Studies On-Going Planned/Published**

Not addressed

**4. Possible Methods/ Approaches**

a\) Scanning sonar to locate whales and potential prey/ movement
relationships

\- scanning sonar on motor vessel and electric motor vessel (control/
quiet)

\- measure hydrophone recordings of ambient noise and clicks

\- collect behavioral data

\- record distribution of prey

\- record behavior of whales above and below water

*Pros:*

\* Direct approach to question

\* Non-invasive

\* Prey ID/ distribution information

\* Acoustic ambient and vessel noise measurements

\* Whale acoustic behavior measurements

\* Lots of data fast (by end of summer good idea of patterns/ pilot
study)

\* No permit required??

\* Underwater as well as surface behavior records

\* Can start this summer

*Cons:*

\* Labor intensive

\* Moderate expense

\* Might impact Dall's and harbor porpoise

b\) Place Acoustic Tags on Whales

*Pros:*

\* Received level at whale

\* Most critical info is the received level at whale

\* Much better info on echolocation and social calls

\* If only deploy audio frequency, can start this summer

*Cons:*

\* Need to develop proper tag, no off-shelf available--\> time and money
(min. 1 year)

\* Invasive

\* Short term data (hours)

\* Need to apply/ re-apply lots of tags

c\) Masking Measurements of Captive Whales

\- Will adjust output/ click levels?

\- Threshold at which whales can not detect objects?

*Pros:*

\* Controlled situation

\* Lots of experiments

\* Signal- noise ratio needed for detection

\* Temporal effects on signal detection

\* Directionality

\* Only approach to getting at above 2

\* Measure of acceptability

*Cons:*

\* Nasty acoustic field

\* Extrapolation of results from captive to wild whales

\* Potential permit issues

**5. Suggested Order of Work and Methods**

Not addressed

[^1]: ^\*^ Designates a key question that was developed further in the
    May Workshop

[^2]: ^\*^ Designates a key question that was developed further in the
    May Workshop

[^3]: ^\*^