In a lab in Hobart, scientists haven't been able to answer one of the crustacean world's curlier questions: can lobsters hear?Southern rock lobster fisherman fear plans to use seismic testing to look for oil and gas reserves in the Bass Strait could threaten crayfish populations
On one side is the seafood industry, which counts southern rock lobster, giant crab, scallops and squid as its prize exports. "My members have always talked anecdotally about the impact of seismic [testing], they've talked about a seismic survey going through, and they couldn't catch lobster on this reef, but they did on that reef," he said.
Inquiry chair Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson established it after being contacted by a snapper fisherman in Western Australia. Their research has shown lobsters exposed to the soundwaves have trouble turning over if they accidentally fall on their back. "There's been more than 1,500 seismic surveys done in Australia, we've mapped more than 3 million kilometres of coastline."Mr McConville said using sound to map reduced the amount of physical drilling the industry needed to undertake and ensured minimal environmental impact.And while there had been a downturn in exploration, Mr McConville said the industry was trying to turn that around as Australia moved towards a potential gas-fuelled energy future.
A department spokesman said the logging and sharing of the results of seismic surveys was managed by a different department, the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator .
Seem like oil and gas are more important than fishing stocks and local industries.
I think you'll find industrial-scale fishing threatens crayfish populations, as well.
When lightning strikes the ocean it generates a significant pulse of sound. It would be surprising if crayfish have not evolved some adaptive response to loud transient noises.