I’m just synthesizing the conversations, data, and information presented at a workshop co-sponsored by the California Gray Whale Coalition and Ocean Conservation Research at the Oakland offices of the Center for Biological Diversity on Monday, April 11. The purpose of…
Category: Uncategorized
NOAA-NMFS Acoustical Guidelines review
We’ve just submitted our comments on the final proposed changes for the “Acoustical Guidelines” from NOAA Fisheries (aka National Marine Fisheries Service or NMFS). These are the guidelines defining sound exposure “Level A” impacts – i.e. physical damage – from…
The Public Voice Prevails in the Atlantic
On Tuesday the Obama Administration revealed their five year leasing plan for the US Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) for 2017 – 2022. Much to the joy of the “keep it in the ground” constituents the lease sales for the Atlantic were…
Update on NOAA-NMFS Acoustical Guidelines
On Monday we submitted our critique and suggestions for the NOAA-NMFS Acoustical Exposure Guidelines for “Level A takes.” These guidelines establish regulatory thresholds for just how much noise we humans can make before the damage to marine mammals requires…
Ocean Noise Playpen
Last month we installed an interactive exhibit at “Environmental Volunteers” interpretive center in the Palo Alto Baylands. It was a delight working with E-Vols Educational Director Brittany Sabol and Executive Director D Allen Berkowitz to craft an interactive screen-driven…
Kickin’ tires at the Offshore Technologies Conference
I’ve just spent that last couple of days in Houston at the annual Offshore Technologies Conference (OTC). Like many things in Texas, this event is HUGE – with some 90,000+ attendees from around the globe kicking tires and otherwise assessing…
One Body of Water
Every year in April there are two events that give us all a chance to pause and appreciate; to dip deeply into gratitude and remember the vigilance and effort it takes to deter the voracious appetites of “capital market forces”…
Historic sound recordings – and recordists celebrated
Just a few weeks ago a notice came across my desk about a marine mammal acoustics symposium hosted by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) at the whaling museum in New Bedford Massachusetts. The occasion was to celebrate the legacy of…
Multinational oil companies invade our shores
Multinational oil companies invade our shores, take away American Jobs, sell our oil on the international market at huge profits (and don’t pay taxes.) In this month’s “Sea Technology” Deepwater Operations Show Growth In US Gulf, International Regions: Greater Spending…
Ocean Noise on NPR “Living on Earth”
I was delighted to hear bio-acousticians David Mann and Susan Parks get some airtime on the NPR program “Living on Earth” this last weekend. David discusses his work using portable “Audio Evoked Potential” equipment to test the hearing of stranded…