There has been much debate about proposed offshore drilling along the Atlantic Coast. Some people are trying to drive policy decisions by creating unfounded fear about the potential impacts of seismic surveys. Despite claims to the contrary, there is no scientific, peer-reviewed evidence that seismic surveys harm fish or marine mammals. In fact, seismic surveys are safely conducted almost daily around the world. Understanding how they work can help to allay unfounded fears.

Seismic surveys use the same technological principles as an ultrasound in a medical procedure, just on a larger scale. Survey vessels release compressed air, creating sound waves that echo back when they reach solid items in the water column, underwater structures or the sea floor. These echoes are recorded by sensitive instruments on the survey vessels and then analyzed to produce an accurate picture of the ocean floor and what lies below.