Page 3 - IAGC_November 2017_Newsletter_FINAL

Association News
IAGC Submits Letter to U.S

Government Regarding Recent

Study on Potential Effects of

Seismic Surveys on Zooplankton

On 17 November, the IAGC and API submitted a letter to BOEM
and NOAA addressing recently published research results suggesting
offshore seismic surveys may adversely affect zooplankton at greater
ranges than are documented in existing published studies.

The letter, along with a detailed review al. (2017) were not sufficient to support
of the research paper, were submitted the conclusions drawn by the authors.
to inform regulatory agency review of
new and emerging scientific documents We look forward to seeing ongoing
relevant to the potential environmental discussions on this topic between the
effects of seismic surveys for environmental authors and other experts in this field to
assessments (Environmental Impact advance the replication and independent
Statement, Marine Mammal Protection verification of McCauley et al. (2017).
Act rulemaking, etc.), such as those We are opposed, however, to the
currently being prepared for seismic premature and selective incorporation
activities in the Atlantic Ocean and the of new scientific information into
Gulf of Mexico. The Associations requested regulatory application before novel
that BOEM and NMFS include the letter findings can be verified and replicated, in
in relevant administrative records. the best traditions of scientific study
On 22 June 2017, Robert D. McCauley, The IAGC remains open to all emerging
Ryan D. Day, Kerrie M. Swadling, Quinn new scientific information. It still remains
P. Fitzgibbon, Reg A. Watson and Jayson that after more than 50 years of continuous
M. Semmens published “Widely Used seismic surveying around the world and
Marine Seismic Survey Air Gun Operations decades of intense scrutiny by hundreds
Negatively Impact Zooplankton” in Nature: of scientists, there is still no scientific
Ecology & Evolution. Although the study evidence that sound from seismic operations
asserts that commonly used marine has any negative impacts on marine life
seismic survey air source operations at a population or ecosystem level.
negatively impact zooplankton, the • See the letter and detailed review HERE
reported results were so inconsistent
with previously documented effects that • See the IAGC Talking Summary
independent expert reviews by leading and Points HERE
plankton ecologists at well-respected • See the IAGC Press Release HERE
scientific institutions concluded that the
matter should be further investigated
because the data offered by McCauley et

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