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self-noise of the acoustic data loggers or digital hydrophones available. This has been verifi ed by three independent test laboratories. The instrument can be used as a data logger, streaming digital hydrophone or both at the same time.” “Users of the icListen Smart Hydro- phones are looking for precise measure- ment of sounds whether that is mam- mals, fi sh, crustaceans and other aquatic life, ships and boats, wave and wind, seismic, pile driving and air guns or other anthropogenic (man-made) noise in the ocean,” he said.

Man made noises, he noted, are be- coming an ever increasing concern. “They are a new pollution of the sea.

In fact, in Europe, man-made sound is offi cially a pollutant. That came about because of the busy shipping lanes.”

He said the noise is interference to the signals of whales and porpoises within their communities. Ocean Sonics has a variety of custom- ers around the globe with the majority working with ocean sound. “Our customers are in the offshore en- ergy, renewable as well as oil and gas, ocean science, observatories, research institutions and also environmental monitoring companies,” he said.

Sounds impact sea mammals. During construction or pile driving in the ocean or in harbours, regulations dictate how loud sounds can be to protect sea life.

The hydrophone can be set up to moni- tor these sounds and ensure they do not exceed required limits.

In a testimonial on the Ocean Sonics’ instruments, Ross Chapman, equipment

Professor Emeritus at the University of

Victoria, BC, wrote: “I have used many different hydrophones on different sys- tems but these icListen hydrophones are the best I’ve seen in many years.

They’re calibrated to very low frequen- cies where I have never been able to get reliable data.” As is the case in most industry, Ocean

Sonics has its challenges.

Visit our team at Oceans ’14 Booth #61 to discuss your application

September 2014 50 MTR

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