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Vessel Monitoring Research
We use acoustic recordings from marine protected areas to monitor patterns of vessel presence and identify characteristics of potentially non-compliant vessels to aid local patrolling and enforcement efforts.
The Northeast Passive Acoustic Research Group works with collaborators to examine the use of passive acoustic monitoring to remotely monitor vessel presence in protected, closed, or sensitive marine areas. Vessels produce distinctive underwater acoustic signatures. Changes to these signatures can represent a range of vessel behaviors such as transiting, maneuvering, or fishing. By analyzing passive acoustic recordings, we are able to find patterns in vessel presence. This can help managers more effectively understand the level of vessel activity and vessel behavior within a given area.
Density maps showing the average number of vessel transits per square kilometer per month during the first half of 2020 (January–June). Vessel categories: a) all vessels, b) cargo, c) tanker, d) passenger, e) fishing and f) other vessels.
Credit: Nature Communications
Scientists are concerned about the impact noise pollution has on marine animals. Marine mammals are of particular concern, as many rely on acoustics for navigation, communication, locating food, and other survival skills. Sound travels much further and faster underwater than in air. Vessels emit noise at similar frequencies to many marine mammals and fish. This creates disruption for these species, such as masking important sounds or preventing their ability to communicate.
Our research group analyzes acoustic data in order to understand patterns in vessel presence and behavior. This information provides managers with a valuable tool for understanding the level of illegal activity within a protected or closed marine area. It can help managers target their efforts, such as on-the-water enforcement activities or aerial surveillance, by focusing on the time periods and locations identified by the data. Passive acoustic monitoring makes it relatively easy to collect information over long time periods in remote areas without being limited by environmental factors such as weather or daylight.
Australian Marine Parks
Australian Marine Park Zones
AMP = Australian Marine Parks; NPZ = National Park Zone
Credit: NOAA’s Passive Acoustic Research Group
The Australian Marine Parks project uses passive acoustic monitoring to understand vessel presence and behavior within marine parks.
Australian Marine Parks comprise more than 60 marine protected areas spanning more than 3 million square kilometers. Parks Australia contributes to the protection of biodiversity in these areas and the long-term viability of the marine environment. This includes habitat for endangered and critically endangered species such as blue whales and gray nurse sharks.
Within some Australian marine parks, certain areas are further designated as National Park Zones. This designation prohibits any unauthorized extractive activities, including recreational and commercial fishing. Since 2018, we have been working in collaboration with Parks Australia to deploy and analyze data from acoustic monitoring devices in National Park Zones. Scientists analyze these data for patterns of vessel presence and behavior within numerous Australian marine parks. Park managers and rangers use this information to understand the degree of compliance and to target their efforts to improve compliance within their respective parks.
NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement
Map of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone
Credit: NOAA
NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is responsible for policing possible violations of our federal marine resource lawsthroughout U.S. waters. We work with NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement to evaluate how we can use passive acoustic monitoring to develop innovative ways to evaluate illegal vessel activity in closed or protected areas. We analyze acoustic signatures of vessels engaged in fishing and non fishing activities. We hope to identify when illegal fishing activity is taking place in a closed or protected area.
Hong Kong Marine Protected Areas
Marine Protected Areas in Hong Kong waters.
Credit: WWF Hong Kong
The geography and geology of Hong Kong’s harbor provide accessible passage to parts of the Eastern world. This makes the Port of Hong Kong one of the busiest seaports in the world for container vessel operation. In addition, the seas of Hong Kong are home to an extensive range of marine life and important habitats. These ecosystems are under threat by human activity, including illegal fishing within protected areas.
Marine Protected Areas are designated regions in which management efforts focus on ocean conservation and marine resource protection. These areas are essential for long-term viability of marine resources, yet in urban areas such as Hong Kong they can experience high levels of vessel traffic. We are collaborating with Southeast Asia Marine Mammal Research Ltd. to deploy passive acoustic recorders in several Marine Protected Areas. We are documenting vessel presence and movements for non-compliance or illegal incursions. SEAMAR is an organization focused on research of threatened marine mammals in Asia.
Stump Point area in Hayes, Virginia, part of the Middle Peninsula, on a flyover with SouthWings. Credit: Scott Lerberg, Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Virginia
Right whale #3853 swimming north offshore of South Carolina on Jan. 20, 2011 with a series of fresh propeller wounds running across its back. The whale was observed 5 days previously offshore of Georgia without propeller wounds. It is unknown whether the whale survived its wounds or not, as it has not been re-sighted since. Vessel collisions are a leading cause of right whale mortality. Credit: EcoHealth Alliance (NOAA permit #594-1759).
Stump Point area in Hayes, Virginia, part of the Middle Peninsula, on a flyover with SouthWings. Credit: Scott Lerberg, Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Virginia
The Fishadelphia team. Credit: Dr. Talia Young.
Fishermen lowers sea scallops into the water. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.
Right whale #3853 swimming north offshore of South Carolina on Jan. 20, 2011 with a series of fresh propeller wounds running across its back. The whale was observed 5 days previously offshore of Georgia without propeller wounds. It is unknown whether the whale survived its wounds or not, as it has not been re-sighted since. Vessel collisions are a leading cause of right whale mortality. Credit: EcoHealth Alliance (NOAA permit #594-1759).