Abstract
BOEM’s Environmental Studies Program conceived of and funded the Workshop. The Workshop offered a means to identify the most critical information needs and data gaps on the effects of various man-made sounds produced by sound-generating devices used by the energy and offshore minerals industries upon fishes, fisheries, and invertebrates. It was intended to aid in decision-making for future studies. The information provided by the workshop will be used by BOEM to direct future research, assist with NEPA and other environmental analyses, develop monitoring and mitigation measures in lease stipulations and provide information to lessees. The Workshop included experts in: (a) the sound-producing technologies and activities; (b) physiology, behavior, and hearing of fishes and invertebrates; and (c) environmental regulation. A first step was to bring all participants to a common level of understanding on the issues of concern. The goal in bringing together technical experts from each of these fields was to stimulate a cross-fertilization of knowledge and ideas about the issues and animals of concern and then to use this to enhance the identification of data needs by the entire group.