Simultaneous tracking of multiple whales using two fiber-optic cables in the Arctic

• DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1130898
• Publication Date: 2023-04-28T05:38:35Z
• Authors: Robin André Rørst...; Jo Eidsvik; Léa Bouffaut; Martin Landrø; John Potter; Kittinat Taweesin...; Ståle Johansen; Frode Storevik; Joacim Jacobsen; Olaf Schjelderup; Susann Wienecke; Tor Arne Johansen; Bent Ole Ruud; Andreas Wuestefeld; Volker Oye
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 570; Science; Q; General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution; Distributed Acoustic Sensing; Passive acoustic monitoring; Baleen whales; tracking; QH1-199.5; 01 natural sciences; bioacoustics; 13. Climate action; 14. Life underwater; fiber-optic

Climate change is impacting the Arctic faster than anywhere else in world. As a response, ecosystems are rapidly changing. result, we can expect rapid shifts whale migration and habitat use concurrent with changes human patterns. In this context, responsible management conservation requires improved monitoring of presence movement over large ranges, at fine scales near-real-time compared to legacy tools. We demonstrate that could be enabled by Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS). DAS converts an existing fiber optic telecommunication cable into widespread, densely sampled acoustic sensing array capable recording low-frequency vocalizations. This work proposes compares two independent methods estimate positions tracks; brute-force grid search Bayesian filter. The applied data from 260 km long, nearly parallel cables offshore Svalbard, Norway. First, our validated using dedicated active air gun experiment, which deduce localization errors both 100 m. Then, fin songs, methods' capability tracks eight whales period five hours along section between 40 95 interrogator unit, constrained increasing noise range, variability coupling sea floor water depths. produce similar consistent tracks, where main difference arises filter incorporating knowledge previously estimated locations, inferring information on speed, heading. demonstrates simultaneous several 800 area, relatively low infrastructural investment. approach promptly inform stakeholders used mitigate negative human-whale interaction.