The main environmental concern for marine seismic surveys is the potential for noise associated with the high-energy seismic source to disturb or injure animal life, especially [[cetacean]]s such as [[whale]]s, [[porpoise]]s, and [[dolphin]]s, as these mammals use sound as their primary method of communication with one another [REF].
A study has shown[REF] that migrating [[humpback whales]] will leave a minimum 3 km gap between themselves and an operating seismic vessel, with resting humpback whale pods with cows exhibiting increased sensitivity and leaving an increased gap of 7-12 km.