Reaction of sandeel to seismic shooting: a field experiment and fishery statistics study.
Open Access
Report
2003
Institute of Marine Research
Hassel, A.T., Knutsen, J., Dalen, S., Lokkeburg, K., Skaar, O. Ostensen, E.K., Haugland, M.F., Misund, O.A.
The reaction to seismics of lesser sandeel (Ammodytes marinus) was investigated in the North Sea using steel cages to enclose the fish while burried in the sand. Three cages were exposed to seismic shooting from SV “Falcon Explorer” during two days in May 2002. The sandeel behaviour was recorded on video from an ROV, and data analysed. The sandeel seemed to react slightly, but did not flee to the bottom. No injury or mortality caused by seismic shooting was observed. The fishing vessels tended to avoid the seismic area, and the days after the shooting the landings of sandeel declined temporarily.
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