Mowachaht/Muchalaht
Wish List for Luna Stewardship 2005
Below in order of priority are the equipment and funding requirements
for effectively protecting Luna from the public in 2005.
Priorities:
1) Safety equipment
3 Flotation/Survival
suits
6 Handheld VHF
programmable radio’s
Click here to help!
Your donation is specifically directed to Luna stewardship activities.
This is our most important goal to reach. Last years 42 patrols covered <16% of the daylight hours and allowed over 70 unnecessary interactions to occur. Two patrols a day will cost $1024 per day. Full-time oversight for Luna and dockside education of visitors from May through October 2005 will cost $177,000 for fuel, wages and boats.
3) Expert Help
Funding to retain part-time services of marine mammal human interaction
expert to assist with establishing initial procedures and provide feedback
on stewardship efforts and interactions. Estimated cost: $12-15,000.
2
Digital Video Camera’s to provide footage to whale behaviour experts.
4) Noise Monitoring Equipment:
1.
1 – 60 kHz hydrophone calibrated - $1400 US + duty.
2. 15 m cable.
3. Decoding and recording equipment
4. Software for operation.
5. Laptop for operation of hydrophone recordings
(use donated by NTC)
6. 4 hydrophones 2 – 20 kHz.
7. VHF compatible receivers.
8. Satellite equipment to uplink from Yuquot National
Historical Site and Interpretive Centre
Starting
in a few weeks Mowachaht/Muchalaht will be installing a VHF link from
hydrophones. NGOs are collaborating to install a satellite link at the
site so scientists can record and listen to Luna’s underwater world.
It will take longer to establish are wider spectrum sensing and recording
system for up-linking ultrasonic signals for analysis and monitoring and
measuring underwater noise in the low frequencies, sonic range, and near-ultrasonic
frequencies of 18-60 kHz. This is where killer whales sensitivity and
LF sonar noise collides. We are trying to set up a satellite link for
researchers to be able to gather the underwater noises that we don’t
hear, but Luna sure does. We want to be able to here fish finder and high
powered sonar signals in Luna’s environment, in addition to vessel
noise and whales.
5) Funding for Technical Volunteers
There are several experts who would like to volunteer time to travel here
and help with technical matters. Funding will allow those people to help
with their time and cover living expenses for them while they are volunteering.
Some other ideas:
Take a trip to Yuquot (Friendly Cove) the place of first Contact with
Europeans, on the MV Uchuck III and see Luna without disturbance (www.MVUchuck.com
or Ph: 1-250-283-2325). Read up on historic Nootka Sound and the Land
of Maquinna before you come. All funding donations from corporations,
individuals or groups received through this forum will go directly to
the Luna Stewardship Plan. This year at Yuquot Summerfest in early August
there will be an unveiling of the monument to commemorate Maquinna Unveiled
the Yuquot National Historic Site.
