Examining the effect of intensive seismic surveys on abundance and behaviour of groundfish species along a continental slope of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

This study investigated changes in the abundance and behaviour of groundfish species at a relatively deep-water site along the eastern continental slope of Canada, when exposed to a commercial seismic survey that lasted 100 consecutive days. Baited cameras were deployed at control and impact sites, before and after seismic exposure, consisting of 323, 5-h long, videos. Changes in abundance were not explained by seismic surveying noise for any of the five commonly observed fish species. However, Atlantic cod were found to have significantly longer arrival-times to baited camera stations and it took longer for available bait to be consumed immediately after seismic surveying occurred. This effect occurred when fish were exposed to a daily mean sound pressure level >120 dB re 1 μPa² prior to the experimental measurements. The study contributes towards a better ecological understating of noise-related impacts over a wide range of conditions where groundfish occur.