Scientists have assessed the anthropogenic impact on marine mammals of the Solovetsky Archipelago

Friday, 16 October 2026 18:47

Scientists have assessed the anthropogenic impact on marine mammals of the Solovetsky Archipelago

During the "Beluga Whales of the Solovetsky Archipelago 2026" coastal-marine expedition, which took place in summer of 2026, scientists from the Marine Mammal Laboratory at Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences conducted extensive bioacoustic monitoring in the waters of the Solovetsky Archipelago. The objective of the study was to examine the impact of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals — specifically White Sea beluga whales and true seals (bearded seals and ringed seals) — that inhabit the Solovetsky Bay during the summer months.

Beluga whales in a reproductive aggregation; photo by E. Panova

The work was carried out under State Assignment No. FMWE-2026-0005, titled "The Impact of Anthropogenic Factors on Beluga Whales and True Seals During the Construction of Hydraulic Structures on Bolshoy Solovetsky Island in the White Sea." This project was initiated by the government in response to the intensive construction and large-scale modernization of the island’s transport and hydraulic infrastructure. It is worth noting that this research is unprecedented: for the first time, a large-scale monitoring program is being conducted to track acoustic landscapes and the presence of beluga whales in the area, with the ultimate goal of preserving a unique natural asset — the summer reproductive aggregation of beluga whales at the Solovetsky Islands.

As part of this year’s phase of bioacoustic monitoring, scientists surveyed a previously unstudied area that is critically important for both beluga whales and seals. Research teams deployed equipment at three locations — within the Solovetsky Bay, along the shores of the Topy Archipelago (where seals establish summer haul-out sites), and in the waters near Cape Beluzhy on Solovetsky Island, a known aggregation area for beluga whales during their reproductive season — thereby establishing an extensive passive acoustic monitoring network. In total, more than 6,600 hours of underwater acoustic recordings were collected.

The "Topy" study site — the area surrounding the Topy archipelago, including the Topy shoal (where one of the autonomous bioacoustic stations was deployed) — has yielded a unique dataset. For the first time, researchers studied the acoustic activity of beluga whales and the levels of noise pollution in the soundscape far offshore, in an area designated for the planned dumping of dredged material. This information is critically important for assessing future dredging operations and minimizing their impact on marine life.

The intensive construction of berthing facilities in 2026 has yielded valuable new data on the impact of construction activities. Notably, for the second consecutive season, the project has employed the pile-driving method known as "vibratory installation" — a technique that minimizes acoustic disturbance to marine mammals. Nevertheless, scientists conducted four sessions of direct noise measurement at various distances and directions from the pile-installation site. This will allow for a more precise characterization of the noise impact and the validation of a previously developed model for how this noise propagates. Particular attention was focused on assessing the impact of the noise on seals, which — due to their specific hearing characteristics and the way sound travels — are more sensitive to construction-related noise than beluga whales.

Alongside acoustic monitoring, the status of marine mammals was also assessed through comprehensive studies of the reproductive aggregation near the Solovetsky Islands, as well as incidental ship-based surveys conducted throughout the Solovetsky Archipelago. These surveys confirmed the regular presence of beluga whales and seals in the waters adjacent to the construction site and highlighted the critical importance of the Topy Archipelago as a haul-out area for seals. During the season, seven newborn beluga calves were recorded within the reproductive aggregation. However, researchers noted a decline in the overall number of beluga whales visiting the Solovetsky reproductive aggregation in the summer of 2026, along with concerning shifts in how the whales utilize specific parts of the area. These findings point to potential, troubling changes within this unique habitat — a site of critical importance for the White Sea population of beluga whales. Possible contributing factors include unregulated boat-based tourism and the emergence of associated recreational activities, such as approaching the animals on stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), diving, and the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).

"Active ecotourism focused on observing marine mammals — which currently remains unregulated and lacks formal guidelines — raises an urgent need to manage the presence of tourist vessels in areas where beluga whales congregate. Of particular concern is the intensifying human pressure on a reproductive aggregation of beluga whales near Cape Beluzhiy on the Solovetsky Island. Another notable ecotourism destination frequently visited by boats and motorcraft is the Topy Archipelago, an important site for seals to haul out during the summer," noted Roman Belikov, Head of the Marine Mammal Laboratory at Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IO RAS) and PhD (Biological Sciences).

The large volume of collected acoustic data requires careful processing. Scientists from the Marine Mammal and Ocean Acoustics Laboratories at the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology (Russian Academy of Sciences), in collaboration with colleagues from the Andreev Acoustics Institute (AKIN) and the Prokhorov General Physics Institute (Russian Academy of Sciences), will analyze recordings of soundscapes, the characteristics of construction-related noise, and data on the behavior of beluga whales and the presence of seals. Through this project, the researchers will be able to identify areas where marine mammals may be affected and develop effective protection measures to be implemented as the region continues to develop.