Marine Tourism Courses Explore Hydrophones in Howe Sound

Over the Spring 2024 semester, Capilano University’s Roy Jantzen had his Marine Tourism and Interpretation students working on a group project focusing on suitable sites in the Átl'ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region (AHSUBR) to install hydrophones into the marine environment to increase visitor experience. Hydrophones are underwater sound recorders used to capture the sounds of marine life and vessel traffic. The intent of this project was to help educate visitors about the marine mammals in the water and connect people to nature.

This course was also part of the Collaborative Online Learning Project (COIL) with Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland. Roy’s course was titled: Life Under Water: How Can Tourism Make a Positive Contribution to SDG 14.

Thirty-plus students were divided and focused on various aspects of this research. Five projects resulted in presentations that have been very informative for our work.

The students met with various experts and heard presentations from scientists at Fisheries and Oceans Canada Pacific Science Enterprise Centre (PSEC) in West Vancouver. Researchers from PSEC are currently studying underwater noise in the Arctic.

Students had the opportunity to interview a diverse range of experts and organizations, such as the North Coast Cetacean Society, about the BC Hydrophone network data, Raincoast Foundation’s NoiseTracker, OrcaLab and Leah Barclay, an Australian Sound Artist, Researcher and Designer on a project called Sonic Reef, which is co-led by Leah and the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

One project took a deep dive, literally, into a location at Lions Bay, along with a resident who is very familiar with underwater sound equipment and is looking at deploying a system close to her home. Another project provided examples of sounds from various hydrophones around the world. Yet another project was The Power of Hydrophones on the Sunshine Coast, a case study of the Raincoast Foundation’s Noise Tracker.

Students gave permission for their projects to be posted publicly:

• The Power of Hydrophones on the Sunshine Coast

• Hydrophones in the Howe Sound

• Hydrophones with Leah Barclay

• Proposal for hydrophones at Lions Bay

• Hydrophone equipment and underwater sound examples (view this Power Point to hear examples of underwater noise)

Dr. Harold Yurk Bioacoustician at the DFO Pacific Science Enterprise Centre

View of Howe Sound from Lions Bay

Instructor Roy Jantzen and speaker April Houweling at Lions Bay

Group Presentation of types of equipment and sample noise