Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L00289:body:0:p29
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L00289
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 87800–90857

right whales are known to respond to high noise conditions by changing the frequency and volume of calls, call duration, and call rate38, 73, 74. Noise may make preferred habitats and migration routes less suitable and, in extreme situations, can cause physical damage84.

Noise interference is of particular concern within or close to southern right whale aggregation areas where young calves are present and whales are resident for long periods of time. Noise may also deter whales from establishing aggregations in otherwise suitable but currently unused habitat and disrupt migratory movements, thereby preventing individuals from using preferred habitats.

Potential forms of noise interference in Australian southern right whale habitat include seismic and drilling exploration operations, mining, some types of dredging, infrastructure construction and operation (particularly pile driving and explosives), defence activities (particular exercises using low and mid frequency sonar), vessel noise, and low flying airplanes and helicopters.

Some forms of noise will be temporary (e.g. during construction of onshore and offshore facilities) while some forms may effectively be permanent (e.g. ongoing mining operations). The impacts of cumulative impacts of all sources of noise interference need to be considered, particularly in or near current and emerging aggregation areas and migration routes.

Seismic surveys
Seismic surveys used for oil and gas exploration, are one of the main sources of noise interference in the marine environment. Impacts can be classified as physical (e.g. permanent or temporary hearing loss), which can occur only if individuals are very close to the seismic survey, and behavioural (e.g. avoiding key aggregation areas, disruption to calving behaviour, stress), which may occur many kilometres from the seismic survey, and may have the potential to impact on many individuals at one time.

As migratory movements to and from the calving grounds remain unknown, individuals may currently be exposed to noise interference from seismic surveys, however the risk of physical impacts is minimised by implementation of the practical measures outlined in the seismic guidelines.

While the seismic guidelines advise that seismic surveys should be undertaken outside of biologically important areas at biologically important times, it is not known at what distance from a seismic source, behavioural impacts may occur or the extent of any behavioural impact. A seismic survey has the potential to have behavioural impacts on many individuals at one time, should the survey lead to behavioural effects in calving or aggregation areas.

Chronic and acute industrial noise
An increasing potential risk is interference from construction noise from onshore and offshore developments. This can include the exploration and development of oil and gas infrastructure, marinas, or new or expanding port facilities. Acute noise comes from activities such as pile driving, some forms of dredging, use of explosives, blasting, and sonar.