Analysis and Ranking of the Acoustic Disturbance Potential of ...

Report No. 6945
BBN Systems and Technologies Corporation
2.1.3 Marine manrmal numbers as related to OCS planning areas*
One of the purposes of this study is to develop a procedure for evaluating
the disturbance potential of various noise sources with respect to the
marine mammals in their vicinity. This model (described in Section 5.2)
requires information on the population density of the species of concern in
specific areas. Four OCS planning areas were selected to be studied in
detail - Chukchi Sea, Shumagin, North Aleutian Basin, and Norton Basin. The
population distribution information in Section 2.1.2 was used, together with
other reference materials, to obtain population density estimates for these
four planning areas for subsequent use in the "Standardized Exposure Rating"
procedure.
Shumagin
Numerous marine mammal species occur in this area. This section refers
only to the fin whale.
Fin whale sightings in the Shumagin Planning Area are concentrated both
temporally and geographically. Brueggeman et al. (1987) recorded fin whales
only in July and August in a series of aerial surveys conducted from April to
December 1985. Sightings were clustered in an area extending roughly from the
Shumagin Islands (160°W) east to 157OW. Approximately 90% of the fin whales
they encountered were in waters