Overview of the SOWER cruise circumpolar acoustic survey data and analyses of Antarctic blue whale calls

Abstract

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) carried out blue whale research within its annual Southern Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research (SOWER) cruises between 1996 and 2010. Over 700 sonobuoys were deployed to record blue whale vocalisations during 11 Antarctic and three low‐latitude blue whale cruises off Australia, Madagascar and Chile. The recorded acoustic files from Antarctic deployments were collated and reviewed to develop a database of digital acoustic files and the associated deployment station metadata of 7,486 acoustic files from 484 stations. Acoustic files were analysed using the automated detection template and visual verification method. We found a significant difference between the total number of acoustic recording hours (2,481) reported in the associated cruise reports and the currently available number of acoustic recording hours (1,541). Antarctic blue whale vocalisations (9,315 D‐calls and 24,902 Z‐calls) were detected on 4,183 out of the total 7,486 acoustic files. December had the lowest call rates; January and February yielded high call rates. While most sonobuoys (63%) were deployed between 1800hrs and 0600hrs, the majority of calls (62%) were detected during observation periods between 0600hrs and 1800hrs. The difference between the available and reported data is a significant concern. Reconciliation of these and any future IWC acoustic data is strongly recommended.