title: Silent research vessels are not quiet.
abstract: Behavior of herring (Clupea harengus) is stimulated by two ocean-going research vessels; respectively designed with and without regard to radiated-noise-standards. Both vessels generate a reaction pattern, but, contrary to expectations, the reaction initiated by the silent vessel is stronger and more prolonged than the one initiated by the conventional vessel. The recommendations from the scientific community on noise-reduced designs were motivated by the expectation of minimizing bias on survey results caused by vessel-induced fish behavior. In conclusion, the candidate stimuli for vessel avoidance remain obscure. Noise reduction might be necessary but is insufficient to obtain stealth vessel assets during surveys.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Research, Nordnes, Bergen, Norway. egil.ona@imr.no
authors.forename: Egil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ona
authors.forename: Olav Rune
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Godø
authors.forename: Nils Olav
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Handegard
authors.forename: Vidar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hjellvik
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Geir
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D009038:Motion; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D012106:Research / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012767:Ships; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation