Listening in on the health of the sea and protecting our precious wildlife!
BayQuest SeaSounds Project is a vessel-based passive acoustic monitoring program designed to take underwater hydrophone recording samples to help assess the health of the bay and wildlife in the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and the adjacent Golden Gate Strait.
This one-year pilot project involves taking a series of 30-minute acoustic samples beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, near shipping lanes and along popular Northern California coastal fishing grounds.The study will be supported with concurrent minute-by-minute visual observations of whale and wildlife behaviors during each 30-minute field mission.
Test sampling and documentation of environmental parameters, such as sea state, water temperature, salinity, and pH levels will be included in this important research. Multiple samples will be collected from consistent sites over time to identify detectable patterns in ocean conditions and wildlife activity.
Do humpback whales change their vocalization or behavior in the presence of passing vessels?
Do warming ocean temperatures and acidification from climate change affect the natural ambient soundscape beneath the surface?
Analyzing this data can help determine if climate change and vessel noise are creating measurable differences in the behavior and vocalizations of whales and other endangered marine mammals during their annual migrations and foraging activity.
As ocean temperatures continue to rise, source foods (anchovy, smelt) are increasingly being driven to our local waters attracting whales and leading them into harm’s way along one of the busiest shipping ports on the west coast.
Our ultimate goal is to help minimize mortality and injuries to humpback whales from vessel strikes or entanglements in offshore fishing gear!
Be part of this important mission of science and discovery!
Our highly experienced team of professional captains, marine science educators, acoustics engineers, data analysts and whale behaviorists is assembled and ready to hit the high seas to begin this important field research project. All that is needed is YOU!
Your generous donation today can help us put research professionals safely out on the water with proven data science and technology to better understand and protect this vital ecosystem. Together, we can help create a peaceful co-existence where people and wildlife can survive and thrive for generations!
Your donation will help fund:
- Vessel acquisition and operations
- Vessel staffing and crew
- Research equipment and technology
- Data collection and analysis
- Education outreach and materials
We are very grateful for your support and delighted to welcome you aboard! Thank you!
BayQuest is a nonprofit, tax exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. EIN #99-1575962.
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