ASA S3/SC1.4 TR-2014 Sound Exposure Guidelines for Fishes and Sea Turtles: A Technical Report prepared by ANSI-Accredited Standards Committee S3/SC1 and registered with ANSI $c

This Technical Report presents the outcome of a Working Group that was established to determine broadly applicable sound exposure guidelines for fishes and sea turtles. After consideration of the diversity of fish and sea turtles, guidelines were developed for broad groups of animals, defined by the way they detect sound. Different sound sources were considered in terms of their acoustic characteristics and appropriate metrics defined for measurement of the received levels. The resultant sound exposure guidelines are presented in a set of tables. In some cases numerical guidelines are provided, expressed in appropriate metrics. When there were insufficient data to support numerical values, the __relative__ likelihood of effects occurring was evaluated, although the __actual__ likelihood of effects depends on the received level. These sound exposure guidelines, which are based on the best scientific information at the time of writing, should be treated as interim. The expectation is that with more research the guidelines can be refined and more cells in the tables completed. Recommendations are put forward defining the research requirements of highest priority for extending these interim exposure guidelines. Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Introduction....Pages 1-3 Aquatic Organisms of Concern....Pages 5-6 Hearing – A General Overview....Pages 7-13 Classification of Fishes and Sea Turtles with Respect to Sound Exposure Risk....Pages 15-16 Effects of Sound Exposure....Pages 17-21 The Nature of Man-Made Sound....Pages 23-32 Sound Exposure Guidelines....Pages 33-51 Research Recommendations....Pages 53-57 Summary and Conclusions....Pages 59-60 Back Matter....Pages 61-76