OREANDA-NEWS.  January 29, 2014. A step-by-step guide to reducing impacts on whales and other marine species during seismic sea floor surveys has been developed by experts with IUCN’s Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel (WGWAP) and Sakhalin Energy.

In the study, published in the journal Aquatic Mammals, the authors present the most thorough, robust and practical approach to minimizing and monitoring the risk of harm to vulnerable marine species when intense sounds are used to survey the sea floor primarily in the search for oil and gas.

“This is a valuable tool for oil and gas companies, regulators and others on all aspects of developing and implementing successful environmental monitoring and mitigation programmes that are precautionary, responsible and effective,” says lead author Dr Doug Nowacek, WGWAP Member from Duke University.

The study describes the most comprehensive whale protection programme ever developed for a seismic survey, used by Sakhalin Energy.

“We are proud that the efforts taken by Sakhalin Energy have been internationally recognised. For over 18 years we have been engaged in the monitoring and research of Gray Whales whose migration routes and feeding grounds are within close proximity to our offshore platforms. Such neighborhood evidences reliability and safety of our oil and gas production and process facilities offshore Sakhalin Island”, says Roman Dashkov, Sakhalin Energy CEO.

Based on the experience in developing and conducting Sakhalin Energy’s survey and associated mitigation and monitoring programme, the authors propose a broader approach that can be adapted to seismic surveys in any environmentally sensitive area.

Some governments and companies planning seismic surveys around the world have already expressed interest in the experience of Sakhalin Energy’s survey and the responsible approach described in the Aquatic Mammals paper.