Fish Behavior and Catch Rate Analysis Around Marine Seismic Survey

A 2015 study in the Gippsland Basin, Bass Strait, Australia, quantified fish behavior and commercial catch rates before, during, and after a 2-D seismic survey. It tracked acoustically tagged gummy sharks, swell sharks, and tiger flathead and analyzed Commonwealth fisheries logbook data from January 2012 to October 2015 for 15 species. The research found limited evidence of seismic survey-induced changes in behavior or catch rates.

Use Cases

• Analyze changes in diel movement patterns and swimming speed for tiger flathead during and after the seismic survey period.
• Model differences in catch rates before and after the seismic survey for 15 species, including tiger flathead, goatfish, and gummy shark.
• Compare detection rates of acoustically tagged gummy sharks and swell sharks before, during, and after airgun operations.
• Investigate catch rate trends for six species showing increases (e.g., elephantfish, boarfish) and three species showing reductions (e.g., red gurnard, sawshark) following the seismic survey.

Strengths

• Combines field-based acoustic tagging data for three species with desktop analysis of commercial logbook data for 15 species.
• Logbook data covers a multi-year time range from January 2012 to October 2015.
• Study design includes both an experimental zone and a control zone for monitoring tagged fish.

Limitations

• Behavioral data were limited as many acoustically tagged sharks left the receiver array before the seismic survey commenced.
• Field study detection rates were low, with only 35% of gummy sharks and 30% of swell sharks detected two days after release.
• The dataset is derived from a single study event (April 2015 seismic survey) and specific region, limiting generalizability.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Field-based acoustic tagging of fish and desktop analysis of Commonwealth fisheries logbook data.

Time Range

Acoustic tagging monitoring in April 2015; logbook data from January 2012 to October 2015.

Freshness

null

Geography

Gippsland Basin, Bass Strait, Australia.