Passive acoustic sea noise loggers record sound emitted by natural processes in the ocean and underwater noise sources of biological origin, such as marine mammals, crustaceans and fish, which have unique acoustic signatures. Through an analysis of these signals, it is possible to discriminate and identify different species and to assess the number of animals present within the range of acoustic observation. Big animals can also be located by a horizontal array of sea noise loggers constituting a passive acoustic observatory.

The acoustic observatory has been installed in the Perth Canyon, with the complete array of four acoustic receivers in the observatory being installed in December. The station will provide baseline data on ambient oceanic noise, detection of fish and mammal vocalizations linked to ocean productivity and whale migration patterns and detection of underwater events. Rob McCauley, the sub-facility leader, “hopes to have both the Perth Canyon and the Portland, South Australia loggers in before Christmas this year.”