A collaboration between BayQuest, Aquarium of the Bay (SF), Cornell University, CalMaritime Academy, Applied Ocean Sciences, SoFar Ocean Technologies and the Golden Gate MPA Collaborative Network.
What Impact is Shipping Noise Having on Local Humpback Whale Populations?
What is BayQuest?
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit team of professional captains, conservationists and marine science educators dedicated to the conservation and protection of endangered wildlife in San Francisco Bay and near coastal waters.
What is the BayQuest SeaSounds Project?
An acoustic monitoring study to record underwater sounds and document visual observations of humpback whales, wildlife and shipping traffic.
What is the Purpose?
To study changes in vocalizations and behaviors of humpback whales in the presence of passing vessels and provide data to researchers, stakeholders and policymakers to affect sustainable conservation initiatives.
Why is it important?
Marine animals such as whales, dolphins and other cetacean species rely on sound to analyze their surroundings, hunt for prey, communicate with one another and act as a navigation aid during their annual migrations.
According to NOAA, anthropogenic noise from human activities can disrupt this natural soundscape and alter behavior in marine animals including habitat abandonment, disruption of foraging, changes in vocalization and other effects which can impact populations.
This disorientation, combined with increasing vessel traffic and offshore fishing, can increase the risk of vessel strikes and entanglements.
How Do We Do It?
We deploy sensitive hydrophones from our vessel beneath the Golden Gate and near coastal shipping lanes while onboard spotters document wildlife activities at the surface. Sea state and water samples are also tested for ph/acidity, salinity and temperature.
What Technology Will Be Used To Conduct This Study?
Advanced acoustic technology including the AOS-BOREALIS hydrophone system in collaboration with Applied Ocean Sciences and SoFar Ocean Technologies. Asecondary hydrophone kit, courtesy of MBARI will be deployed for comparative Analysis.
ROV technology will be deployed from our vessel to take a video snapshot of the seafloor at each data collection site, courtesy of Golden Gate MPA Collaborative Network.
The vessel to be used for this study is the R/V Mike Reigle in collaboration with project partners, Aquarium of the Bay (Pier39/SF).
Our study includes data collection sites near the Golden Gate Bridge and shipping lanes that enter into San Francisco Bay. The study also includes the fishing grounds near Duxbury Reef and within the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.
How Will My Donation Be Used?
Your generous donation today will help us put research professionals safely out on the water with proven data science and advanced acoustics technology.
Your donation will help fund:
- Vessel operations and fuel
- Vessel staffing and crew
- Field research gear
- Data collection and analysis
- Education outreach and materials
For more information about this exciting new program, please visit our website at and follow our journey on social media!
Full project proposal available on request.
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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