Statistical acoustics

The productive waters of the Hauraki Gulf are a global hotspot for iconic seabirds, cetaceans, and species of social and economic value, such as snapper.

Yet, this dynamic ecosystem is under pressure from all directions. Commercial and recreational overfishing and other human-induced pressures, such as sediment runoff and noise, all combine to cause environmental change.

“Measuring change is challenging, but new sophisticated remote sensing tools and analytical techniques provide exciting future tools in the toolbox to measure the overall health of the ecosystem,” says Craig.

The interdisciplinary team is pioneering statistical acoustics as a technique for monitoring the ecosystem. The first stage of the project uses hydrophone arrays (microphones designed for underwater use) to measure the soundscape of nearshore systems. The team are also mining their extensive archive of acoustic data from deep and shallow waters.

The project aims to develop better tools for measuring ongoing ecosystem health in the Hauraki Gulf.