Use of baited remote underwater video (BRUV) and motion analysis for studying the impacts of underwater noise upon free ranging fish and implications for marine energy management

Roberts, Louise; Pérez-Domínguez, Rafael; Elliott, Michael

Abstract

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd Free-ranging individual fish were observed using a baited remote underwater video (BRUV) system during sound playback experiments. This paper reports on test trials exploring BRUV design parameters, image analysis and practical experimental designs. Three marine species were exposed to playback noise, provided as examples of behavioural responses to impulsive sound at 163–171 dB re 1 μPa (peak-to-peak SPL) and continuous sound of 142.7 dB re 1 μPa (RMS, SPL), exhibiting directional changes and accelerations. The methods described here indicate the efficacy of BRUV to examine behaviour of free-ranging species to noise playback, rather than using confinement. Given the increasing concern about the effects of water-borne noise, for example its inclusion within the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and the lack of empirical evidence in setting thresholds, this paper discusses the use of BRUV, and short term behavioural changes, in supporting population level marine noise management.

Citation

Roberts, L., Pérez-Domínguez, R., & Elliott, M. (2016). Use of baited remote underwater video (BRUV) and motion analysis for studying the impacts of underwater noise upon free ranging fish and implications for marine energy management. Marine pollution bulletin, 112(1-2), 75-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.08.039

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 18, 2016
• Publication Date: Nov 15, 2016
• Deposit Date: Oct 12, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 15, 2016
• Journal: Marine pollution bulletin
• Print ISSN: 0025-326X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 112
• Issue: 1-2
• Pages: 75-85
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.08.039
• Keywords: Underwater noise; Marine energy; Baited underwater camera; Acoustic playback; Impulsive noise; Behaviour
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/444099
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X16306713
• Additional Information: Authors' accepted manuscript of an article published in: Marine pollution bulletin, 2016, v.112, issue 1-2
• Contract Date: Oct 12, 2016