Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Revival Soundscape

The Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Revival Soundscape Project is designed to enhance community connection with Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound and contribute to the conservation of its marine ecosystem, including the protection of whales and other marine mammals through underwater acoustics. This project seeks to engage the North Shore and surrounding communities by providing innovative ways to connect with and protect the local marine environment.

Our key objectives are to:

Advance Leading-Edge Research: Further develop a real time tracking tool for whales and ships, with the use of whale vocalizations captured with underwater hydrophone technology. The development of a real-time acoustic cetacean localization system will be designed specifically for Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound through partnership with Whale Sound/BC Hydrophone Network.

Foster Connection and Awareness: Create a space where community members can listen to whale vocalizations in real-time, offering a unique opportunity to experience and learn about the rich marine life of Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound from shore. This initiative aims to inspire a sense of wonder and stewardship by connecting people directly to the underwater world.

Promote Whale Protection: Use real-time acoustic data to alert ships of whale presence, encouraging vessel slowdowns and to reduce the risk of collisions and mitigate underwater noise pollution. This objective will inform the development of mitigation measures through improving the understanding of local whale-vessel interactions and risks to whales from acoustic disturbance and vessel strikes. This proactive approach will directly contribute to maintaining a safe and quiet habitat for whales in BC’s most southern fjord.

Establish an Acoustic Baseline: Collect and analyze acoustic data to create a baseline for whale presence, enabling research into monthly and yearly trends in habitat use. This baseline will be critical for monitoring changes as vessel traffic as industrial activities increase, helping researchers, territorial stewards and decision-makers assess potential impacts on marine life and inform conservation strategies.

Engage the Community: Provide opportunities for the community to participate in the project through volunteering, citizen science initiatives, and educational workshops. Volunteers will gain hands-on experience with marine research and acoustics, empowering them to take an active role in conservation efforts and fostering a sense of belonging within the broader effort to protect Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound.

Develop and Design an Interactive Web-Based User-Friendly Dashboard: Visually deliver the acoustic detections of whale species, and noise metrics in real time on a webserver for the community. The production of stewardship tools such as website-based charts describing current whale habitat use and noise exposure levels will be available for territorial stewards, Transport Canada, DFO, and environmental organizations.  The dashboard will be connected to the Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound archive from where it retrieves the metrics automatically at regular intervals and creates visual aids.

By combining real-time acoustic monitoring with community engagement, this project fosters connection and belonging. It will serve as a bridge between land-based communities and the marine environment, ensuring that Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound remains a thriving habitat for marine life and a source of pride for future generations.