Marine bioacoustic survey and monitoring
Baker Consultants has an established reputation in the practical application of remote, full spectrum, bioacoustics for biological survey. Building upon this experience we now offer a low-cost marine survey and monitoring service using the latest technology in bioacoustic data collection and analysis.

Many marine mammals can be identified by their vocalisations whether they are social calls or foraging sounds, such as echolocation signals.

With the advent of low-cost monitoring technology, it is now possible to build a detailed picture of activity within a particular area over a long period of time. Marine acoustic monitoring does not need to be labour intensive and data analysis can be automated. The cost of providing high quality data has therefore been greatly reduced.

Our preferred survey vessel is designed for precision deployment providing significant advantage through more efficient data collection and cost reduction.

The marine bioacoustic service features:
•    Long-term deployment (up to 3 months depending on  sampling regime)
•    Precision deployment and retrieval (reducing vessel time)
•    Cryptic deployment (reducing equipment and data loss)
•    Full spectrum recording  10Hz - 190KHz
•    Single point, towed or synchronised array deployment
•    Auto recognition of vocalisations allowing for rapid data analysis

Our in-house marine biologists Dr. Anna McGregor and Federica Pace support our marine bioacoustic service. Both Anna and Federica are acknowledged experts in their fields and highly experienced in data collection and signal analysis.


Underwater ambient noise monitoring
With increasing regulation within the marine environment there is an escalating requirement to ensure that potentially anthropogenic activities are carefully controlled and monitored. For example, all cetaceans in UK waters are European Protected Species and therefore enjoy the highest level of legal protection; the Marine Strategy Framework Directive uses underwater noise as one of the eleven descriptors of Good Environmental Status. Assessments of Good Environmental Status within the marine environment are planned to begin in 2012 for certain parts of the UK.

We also offer a combined service of bioacoustic survey with far-field marine noise modelling. Deployment can be related to a specific activity (such as piling) or long term monitoring of ambient noise related to repetitive access (such as ferry routes or military test facilities). As with our bioacoustic deployments we are able to monitor a board spectrum either from single points or arrays. Far-field data can then be modelled to provide information against predefined levels. Weighting functions (e.g. M-weighting and dBht) will be applied to the measured sound levels to assess the impact of noise on species of interest.


Intertidal biotope surveys and monitoring
Intertidal surveys are often required to inform developments that impinge upon coastal environments where there is a potential for direct loss of habitats or indirect impacts, such as sedimentation or increased visitor pressure.

Our marine ecologists use a combination of aerial photography and field survey of the intertidal zone to map the biotopes present within an area and target any areas of interest or species that are particularly vulnerable.

Extensive surveys can be aided by the use of hovercraft to allow rapid access to mudflats, sand banks or salt marshes both for mapping or sediment sampling.

Methods employed are consistent with JNCC’s The Marine Habitat Classification for Britain & Ireland (http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1584).

Sub-tidal surveys and monitoring
The shallow waters around the UK support a wealth of habitats and species that are considered to be of international conservation value. Baker Consultants offers a range of survey techniques to facilitate the survey and mapping of sub-tidal habitats, including sea-bed photography. Using our preferred survey vessel we are able to offer high quality still photography (even in poor visibility) and video transects, allowing for rapid data collection. The vessel has built-in dynamic GPS allowing for highly accurate positioning (ca. Two metres).