GESOther: It is not yet possible to define criteria due to a lack of knowledge.

LevelPressureImpulsive

LevelPressureContinuous

ImpactPressureFunctionalGroups

NoiseImpulsive11_1

NoiseContinuous11_2

NoiseFunctionalGroupD11

MammalsBaleenWhales, MammalsToothedWhales, MammalsSeals

It is not yet possible to define thresholds due to a lack of knowledge.

-9999

NotAssessed

NotAssessed

NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

NotRelevant

NotRelevant

NotRelevant

Not possible to assess at this stage due to a lack of established methods.

It is not possible at this stage to define elevations of ambient noise that would cause the marine environment to not be at GES.

It is not possible to assess at this stage due to a lack of established methods.

Level of Pressure: The work underway in Ireland to date on impulsive sound, relates to seismic surveys only. The seismic sound maps (Beck et al., 2012) are based on the number of ‘bang-days’ which record the level of seismic activity. Further work is being undertaken on these seismic datasets to create sound maps based on bar m which is a better indicator of noise pressure. Other impulsive sound generating activities i.e. sonar, pile driving, acoustic deterrent devices and explosives were not taken into account for this assessment due to data limitations. Additional data on these activities will be collected and compiled for the next reporting cycle. The data / scientific understanding is not yet currently available / sufficiently developed to allow estimation of the proportion of days and their distribution when anthropogenic sound sources exceed sound exposure levels. The Good Environmental Status (GES) metric set out in Commission Decision 2010/477/EU includes sounds in the range 10Hz to 10,000Hz. Seismic exploration relies predominantly on the lower end of this frequency band, 10Hz to say 300Hz. This activity takes place in deeper Irish waters where the greater potential impact is on larger and deep water cetacean species. Additional sources of impulsive sound that originate from activities in coastal waters and which may have an impact on pinnipeds and smaller coastal cetaceans were not assessed for this reporting round. Trend in Pressure: The data cannot be fully reported due to the incompleteness of the noise register and because environmental thresholds have not yet been established in order to define ‘exceedance’ of ‘Sound Exposure Level’. Current data / research output on impulsive sound relates to seismic surveys only and not other impulsive sound generating activities i.e. sonar, pile driving, acoustic deterrent devises and explosives, due to current data limitations this is considered a limitation. Additional data will be collected and compiled as part of the noise monitoring programme for the next Article 8 reporting cycle. The identification of recent trends from 12 years of seismic data (2000 – 2011) is difficult to assess as the data displays no clear directional pattern across the 12 years, although clear peaks were evident for certain years, and the number of active offshore authorisations has been steadily increasing since 2002 reaching a total of 45 active authorisations in 2011 (Figure 3.3, Beck et al., 2012) Although we have reported that the future predicted trend is ‘increasing’, this trend cannot be quantified until the next round of Article 8 reporting.

Level of Pressure: It is not possible at this time to quantify the extent of ‘raised levels’ of continuous sound due to a lack of comprehensive data on continuous noise generating activities, established methodologies and baselines as well as knowledge on the impacts of elevated ambient noise on the marine environment. As current research being conducted in Ireland on continuous sound relates to vessel movement sound intensity only and not other continuous sound generating activities e.g. dredging, coastal industrial sites, and energy installations, this is considered a limitation and will be addressed in future data collection, monitoring and Article 8 reporting. Trend in Pressure: Current information on the extent and impacts of continuous noise in the Irish marine environment is limited. Research currently underway will further inform this work and support the development of ‘risk-based’ noise monitoring programmes in order to establish noise baselines, future trends for ambient noise as well as the impact of noise from vessel movements on the marine environment. As reliable datasets for other activities contributing to continuous sound are not currently available, this is considered a limitation at present. Further data collection on noise generating activities, noise monitoring as well as research on the potential impacts from activities generating continuous sound such as dredging, coastal industrial sites, and energy installations, is required. It is not possible to determine recent trends in continuous underwater noise, as methodologies and data sets are not yet fully developed and there is uncertainty regarding the level, and impacts of sound from vessels. Future expected trends in underwater noise are also not possible to predict, as more needs to be ascertained in relation to the interaction of underwater noise with marine ecological characteristics before determining a link between pressures and the ecosystem.

As research is on-going, no information and data is reported at this time.

In terms of the MSFD Commission Decision and as per the TSG Noise Report, impulsive sound activities can be categorised by source or activity. Categories are seismic surveys, sonar, pile driving, acoustic deterrent devices and explosives. Sound generated from seismic surveys are considered to be a major source of impulsive noise in Irish marine waters. An examination of the spatial distribution of seismic exploration between the years 2000 and 2011 has revealed 11 specific areas of interest relating to the oil and gas industry, quadrants Q11, Q12, Q18, Q19, Q25, Q27, Q43, Q48, Q49, Q50 and Q57 (Beck et. al. 2012, Figure 3.16; quadrants of 1o latitude and 1o longitude). The year 2000 represented the highest number of surveys and the greatest level of sound intensity in terms of number of cells with bang days greater than five (Bang days were defined as “days in which data from seismic surveying were acquired”, p.vii, Beck et al., 2012. The spatial extent of the pressure varied greatly from year to year, and was more localised in some years (2001/2002/2003/2004, and again in 2009/2010/2011), and also included large scale surveys such as occurred in 2005. In 2006 and 2007 the surveys had the greatest spatial spread. The intensity of the pressure would appear to be increasing with the use of larger, more powerful airgun arrays from 2007 onwards, generally in the >3000-4000 cubic inches category. The additional use of airgun cubic capacity as a proxy for sound levels is not ideal but is a step forward from the “bang day” analyses. Significant developments are taking place in airgun array design to ‘tune’ the array frequencies and increase directionality vertically downwards. While cubic capacity may be increasing to provide more accuracy at lower (10Hz – 20Hz) frequencies, directionality is also limiting the lateral extend of the noise emission. Most recently, discussions within the TSG Noise proposed the use bar m as the best known proxy for source levels from airguns used in seismic surveying. Bar m is a more accurate (and impact-relevant) means of measuring noise propagation than ‘bang-days’ which simply records seismic activity. Bar m relates to the pressure (in Bar) that the impulsive sound creates at a particular distance (in metres) from the source, as opposed to cubic inches of the air guns. A project is currently underway in Ireland to further develop the sound maps of seismic pressure in Irish waters using bar m, the recommended proxy for airgun source levels. Spatial distribution of seismic sound intensity appears to be greatest in 35 quadrants in Irish marine waters, but this is largely attributed to one large scale 2D survey undertaken in 2007. Therefore spatial and temporal trends in the intensity of the pressure are difficult to discern. An overall examination of the data between 2000 and 2011 indicate an increase in the size of airgun arrays used in the exploration for oil and gas. Datasets have not yet been developed for other impulsive sound generating activities.

The TSG Noise report (p.4, Van der Graaf et al., 2012) has indicated that shipping is one of the largest contributors to low frequency ambient noise. Research in relation to ambient or continuous sound generated from vessels in Ireland’s marine waters is currently on-going through two research projects. Shipping sound is typically the dominant contributor to ambient sound in shallow water areas and close to shipping lanes (p.182, SEAI, 2010). Vessel data generated by the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), and Automatic Identification System (AIS) are being generated to establish ‘baselines’ and will be used to produce an assessment of the interaction of vessel sound and baleen whales. A project is also underway to produce risk maps for key marine mammal species (including baleen whales) based on propagation of anthropogenic sound combined with the statistical probability of marine mammals being present in an area. Results from this work will be used to support the design of ‘risk-based’ noise monitoring programmes which will be available for later reporting rounds of the MSFD. While vessels are a significant source of underwater sound, coastal industrial sites must also be considered. The modelling being prepared by the two research projects when completed and validated will present a reasonable basis for Article 8 reporting under this descriptor for the next round .

At the moment it is not possible to provide information on the physical, and biological impacts of underwater noise on Irish marine waters. Further work needs to be undertaken on generating the necessary data sets on noise generating activities, methodologies for quantifying the pressure and the vulnerability of functional groups to underwater noise. Work is currently underway to address these matters for Irish waters. Research in relation to environmental impacts of noise is currently on-going through two research projects. One project is in the process of collating vessel data generated by the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), and Automatic Identification System (AIS) to produce an assessment of the interaction of vessel sound and baleen whales. A project is also underway to produce risk maps for key marine mammal species (including baleen whales) based on propagation of anthropogenic sound combined with the statistical probability of marine mammals being present in an area. Results from this work will be available for the next round of MSFD Article 8 reporting. One of the projects is carrying out in-situ monitoring of ambient sound in the Shannon Estuary, using autonomous recording stations. The units were installed in July 2012 and recovered in September 2012. Data are analysed (live) using ORCA modelling to calculate propagation loss and source levels (see: www.monitoringoceannoise.com). The second project are carrying out in-situ monitoring in Cork Harbour using a two channel high resolution autonomous seabed acoustic recorder. The equipment was installed in July 2012 and recovered in September 2012. Again, results from this work will be available for the next round of MSFD Article 8 reporting. The monitoring being carried out by the two projects will inform future monitoring requirements.

Low

Non related GES component

Increasing

Stable

Increase

Unknown_NotAssessed

Vessel movements, which incorporate the activities shipping, fishing, ferry and research vessel movements (referred to as Activity 1:UsesActivitiesOther in the ranking tab), were identified as activities potentially contributing to underwater sound. Non renewable energy, which incorporates the activities oil and gas exploration, and includes seismic surveys is also identified as an activity contributing to the pressure. Finally, coastal infrastructure, defined in this instance as a composition of the following activities: pile driving, dredging, coastal activities such as explosives, also contribute to this pressure.

Vessel movements, which incorporate the activities shipping, fishing, ferry and research vessel movements (referred to as Activity 1:UsesActivitiesOther in the ranking tab), were identified as activities potentially contributing to underwater sound. Non renewable energy, which incorporates the activities oil and gas exploration, and includes seismic surveys is also identified as an activity contributing to the pressure. Finally, coastal infrastructure, defined in this instance as a composition of the following activities: pile driving, dredging, coastal activities such as explosives, also contribute to this pressure.

Vessel movements, which incorporate the activities shipping, fishing, ferry and research vessel movements (referred to as Activity 1:UsesActivitiesOther in the ranking tab), were identified as activities potentially contributing to underwater sound. Non renewable energy, which incorporates the activities oil and gas exploration, and includes seismic surveys is also identified as an activity contributing to the pressure. Finally, coastal infrastructure, defined in this instance as a composition of the following activities: pile driving, dredging, coastal activities such as explosives, also contribute to this pressure.

• LandClaimDefence
• OilGas
• UsesActivitiesOther

• LandClaimDefence
• OilGas
• UsesActivitiesOther

• LandClaimDefence
• OilGas
• UsesActivitiesOther

Descriptive and summary information presented here are largely provided through outputs to date from two research projects. These projects are currently on-going. Further information will be available in 2013. Research in relation to ambient or continuous sound generated from vessels in Ireland’s marine waters is currently on-going and the process of collating vessel data generated by the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), and Automatic Identification System (AIS) to produce an assessment of the interaction of vessel sound and baleen whales is well-advanced. Risk maps for key marine mammal species (including baleen whales) based on propagation of anthropogenic sound combined with the statistical probability of marine mammals being present in an area, will be produced. Results from this work will be available in 2013. In-situ monitoring of ambient sound in the Shannon Estuary and in Cork Harbour is also being undertaken. The output of these research projects will be used to inform the development of a ‘risk-based’ noise monitoring programme which will lead to the quantification and better understanding of the environmental impacts of underwater sound in Irish marine waters.

Descriptive and summary information presented here are largely provided through outputs to date from two research projects. These projects are currently on-going. Further information will be available in 2013. Research in relation to ambient or continuous sound generated from vessels in Ireland’s marine waters is currently on-going and the process of collating vessel data generated by the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), and Automatic Identification System (AIS) to produce an assessment of the interaction of vessel sound and baleen whales is well-advanced. Risk maps for key marine mammal species (including baleen whales) based on propagation of anthropogenic sound combined with the statistical probability of marine mammals being present in an area, will be produced. Results from this work will be available in 2013. In-situ monitoring of ambient sound in the Shannon Estuary and in Cork Harbour is also being undertaken. The output of these research projects will be used to inform the development of a ‘risk-based’ noise monitoring programme which will lead to the quantification and better understanding of the environmental impacts of underwater sound in Irish marine waters.

Descriptive and summary information presented here are largely provided through outputs to date from two research projects. These projects are currently on-going. Further information will be available in 2013. Research in relation to ambient or continuous sound generated from vessels in Ireland’s marine waters is currently on-going and the process of collating vessel data generated by the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), and Automatic Identification System (AIS) to produce an assessment of the interaction of vessel sound and baleen whales is well-advanced. Risk maps for key marine mammal species (including baleen whales) based on propagation of anthropogenic sound combined with the statistical probability of marine mammals being present in an area, will be produced. Results from this work will be available in 2013. In-situ monitoring of ambient sound in the Shannon Estuary and in Cork Harbour is also being undertaken. The output of these research projects will be used to inform the development of a ‘risk-based’ noise monitoring programme which will lead to the quantification and better understanding of the environmental impacts of underwater sound in Irish marine waters.