Seismic Research Update

On June 17th at DFO White Hills in St. John’s, Katie Power, Industry Relations Representative, attended an Environmental Studies Research Fund (ESRF) stakeholder meeting to review the conclusions of Dr. Corey Morris and team’s research on the effects of seismic on snow crab (2015-2020) and on groundfish (2021-2025). Topics discussed included project designs, soundscape metrics, acoustics, telemetry, how this research can be scaled to fisheries, and there was a session to receive stakeholder feedback. Feedback from this session will then be shared by Corey and his team at “Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life” international conference in Prague, Czech Republic from the 29th of June to the 4th of July 2025.

To provide commercial fishing context to these data, a unique and complex database was established to include mapping of fisheries footprints, overlapping this with different sources of underwater noise, and measuring the affected areas and percentage of noise coverage, among others. Data collected and analyzed show there is in fact a relationship between noise and catch rates for commercial fish species due to seismic. However, this relationship is not consistent amongst various species and there are species-specific responses.

Seismic air gun releases, while intense, were shown to dissipate rapidly over time and the subsequent potential impacts on marine life are likely to occur over very short time scales. According to this research, they do not show evidence of impacts on fish or large zooplankton in localized environments over relatively short periods.

This research concluded that there is no evidence showing seismic affects abundance or displacement of Atlantic cod or American plaice, however, seismic was observed to impact foraging and feeding behaviors for Atlantic cod. Witch Flounder are more likely to remain at the location of seismic when its occurring while Greenland Halibut were more likely to migrate away. This highlights the aforementioned species-specific responses and indicates more research is needed. Current research still does not understand potential long-term impacts on displacement and breeding.

These studies demonstrated groundfish between depths of 50m and 350m responded to seismic surveying and descended to greater depths when the seismic vessel was within 60km and when average sound pressure was >122 dB 1uPa2. When seismic survey noise is high in offshore environments, there are impacts to fish behaviors, and this research showed that these impacts are observed at greater distances than previously reported.

Soundscape research performed did indicate sound from seismic sources overlaps the NL commercial fishing footprints for cod, shrimp, redfish, turbot, and crab. This research underscores the need for seismic operations to avoid all commercial fishing seasons to reduce the impacts on commercial catches.

We know seismic surveys can be months long and covered large areas. FFAW members have voiced concerns about reduced catch rates and over the health of fishery resources due to seismic. Dr. Morris’s research did not find detectable, consistent impacts of seismic noise on commercial snow crab.

This does not mean there are no impacts, it simply means these impacts were not totally measurable or statistically significant. More research on this has been recommended, particularly to include other life history stages (impacts on females, eggs, larvae), different biomass densities, and other laboratory studies.

Seismic is expensive and current spatial and temporal mitigations currently in place to avoid activity fishing activity mean seismic surveying to study in this context does not happen easily or frequently. The research is challenging to duplicate, and this further complicates decisive conclusions. Dr. Morris and his team have developed intricate models and advanced research protocols to do the best possible to investigate harvester concerns on this topic. Strong collaboration amongst stakeholders, including FFAW and fish harvesters, is essential to this work.

FFAW appreciates the continued work ERSF and Dr. Corey Morris on seismic research and the effects on commercial species. This is critically and fundamentally important for our membership and the future of the industry. While these results are well received, FFAW did submit feedback outlining these results prove there are still many uncertainties and unknowns.

FFAW members want to see enhanced research on the effects of prolonged exposure over significant periods of time on commercial species and the union will continue to advocate for such. Seismic has been occurring in the NL offshore for decades. Fish harvesters are traditional ocean users and have observed these real time impacts throughout the generations of fishing families across coastal communities.

Corey Morris is willing to meet with harvesters to address his research directly. He is looking for member feedback on how this research is useful and how it can be improved. Alternatively, members with questions or comments on this can reach out to Katie Power at 709-330-0531.