Seismic-Invertebrate Research Program

Why Study the Interaction Between Seismic Exploration and Invertebrates?

The Invertebrate Fisheries and the Oil and Gas industries are economically important for the Province of Nova Scotia. Because both industries require the allocation and use of areas of ocean floor that overlap, the occurrence of resource management conflict issues (e.g., pollution, space allocation, activity interaction, exploration permits and regulations etc.) has created numerous ongoing community, industry, regulatory and political management debates.  

Exploration activity makes use of seismic surveys to establish the geological structure beneath the ocean floor and identify potential sources of oil or gas. There are suggestions that sound waves produced during seismic surveys may adversely impact invertebrate organisms. Research to date has been inconclusive and controversial.

There have been numerous and repeated calls within Nova Scotia for research on the potential impacts of seismic exploration on invertebrate fisheries to be escalated.  Recognizing this, the OEER has decided to initiate a dedicated research program that is devoted towards increasing knowledge on the impacts of seismic exploration activities on marine invertebrates. 

What are the Expected Objectives/Outcomes of the Research Program?

There are several main objectives to the research program.

These include:

• providing a means of regularly prioritizing what stakeholders would like information on;

• developing a network of institutions that can respond to the needs and requirements of the OEER;

• developing research scientists that have the capability of responding to the needs and requirements of the OEER;

• ensuring that priority research is not limited by the availability of funding;

• developing a community of decision-makers, policy-makers, managers, scientists and the public who are well-briefed and knowledgeable on the issues relating to seismic impacts on invertebrates; and 

• providing a research governance system that facilitates an effective research process and ensures that OEER research products are of high quality and valued by stakeholders.