OSC is proud to announce the release of another exciting new publication! As research continues to be a core focus of our work, this study adds to our ever growing portfolio of porpoise-related research, and we are thrilled to have released the first published study using a Fiobuoy acoustic release to monitor harbour porpoise.
This study evaluates two contrasting mooring methods for Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) methods of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the German Borkum Riffgrund Special Area of Conservation (North Sea). Data collection, curation, analysis, and reporting was led by OSC Managing Directors Ian Todd and Dr. Victoria Todd, with support from OSC Administrator Helen McLaughlin, who assisted in formatting and preparations for document submission.
Porpoises were monitored using T- and C-PODs, which are autonomous echolocation click detectors. The first mooring method used an established and legislatively stipulated surface buoy, which required a crane to deploy, and was anchored to the seafloor using a concrete block and chain. The second was a low-profile and sub-surface experimental buoy developed by Fiomarine, which featured an acoustic release mechanism and was deployed manually over the side of a vessel.
The sub-surface acoustic-release buoy yielded significantly higher-quality data compared to the surface buoy. Porpoise detection positive minutes per day were higher at the experimental site, further indicating superior performance of the subsurface mooring. Additionally, the more sensitive C-PODs outperformed T-PODs on the quieter acoustic release buoy, but T-PODs were better at recording in higher noise levels. This innovative new setup, and the standard of data that can be collected from it, marks a significant step forward in PAM techniques.
To continue reading and find out more, the publication can be accessed in full and free of charge here. We are looking forward to releasing more exiting publications throughout the year, but in the meantime OSC’s full publication list can be explored in more detail here.
