Enhanced detection of harbour porpoises prior to ramming, seismic blasts and ammunition clearance: design and construction of a PAL-porpoise detector (PPD)

Project ID:

2012/06

Activity end date:

Aug 01, 2013

Executive summary

Design, construction and field tests of a novel prototype harbour PAL porpoise detector (PPD). The detector will generate harbour porpoise alarm signals to receive focused echolocation clicks and thereby greatly improve animal detection. Detection of harbour porpoises within a large radius is of great importance prior to the onset of activities with intensive acoustic hazard such as ammunition clearance, seismic exploration or pile-ramming, currently threatening small cetaceans world wide.

Conservation

“Investigations, to be coordinated and shared in an efficient manner between the Parties and competent international organizations, shall be conducted in order to (a) assess the status and seasonal movements of the populations and stocks concerned, (b) locate areas of special importance to their survival, and (c) identify present and potential threats to the different species.“ and specifies that: “Studies under (a) should particularly include improvement of existing and development of new methods ... Studies under (b) should focus on locating areas of special importance to breeding and feeding. Studies under (c) should include research on habitat requirements...”

Objective

A novel self-contained active porpoise detector

progress report

scientific publication

public outreach and popular science reports in the local media

Activity

Project Activity

Sep 01, 2012

Dec 31, 2013

Responsibility:

Boris Culik

Output:

A novel self-contained active porpoise detector.
A progress report.
A scientific publication.
Public outreach and popular science reports in the local media.

Designing and building a programmable, easy to use harbour porpoise click- and clicktrain generator combined with a detector for these signals