ac 31 a review of methods for studying marine mammals in tidal stream sites
Jim Elliott (1), Steven Benjamins (1), Ben Wilson (1) (1) Scottish Association for Marine Science jim.elliott@sams.ac.uk
Few inshore environments present greater difficulties for the study of marine mammal distribution, abundance and habitat use than tidal streams due to the large and variable forces associated with the rapid flow of water. These areas are, however, of increasing interest for tidal energy development, and much more detailed information is required on how marine mammals make use of them. Over the years, a range of different survey and monitoring methods have been developed that could potentially be applied in these environments; each with its own benefits and drawbacks. This presentation’s aim is to illustrate a review for their applicability in studying marine mammal distribution, abundance and habitat use in tidal streams, with particular focus on Scotland. It will include examples of specific developments used by the authors in five locations at tidal speeds greater than 4m/s acquiring over 500 hours of operational data.