The ocean is filled with sounds. Whales, dolphins, and fish use the ocean to communicate, search for food, and travel, but human sounds are overwhelming these sounds. Ocean noise pollution, Some scientists believe that ambient noise doubles every decade.
Where Does the Noise Come From?
The shipping industry is the leading source of noise. Other sources include oil probing, seismic research, offshore wind stations, and military sonar.
How Does It Affect Animals?
- Masking: Noise limits communication of species that depend on low frequency communication.
- Change of behavior: Like animals, whales and dolphins adapt their sounds so that they can be heard even amid loud noise.
- Wider harm: Many species of fish, squid, crabs, and turtles are affected.
- Right whales: Researchers claim that limited space for communication may affect North Atlantic right whales in a permanent way.
What measures are taken?
In 2024, the International Maritime Organization released updated ship noise regulations and suggested starting a new research to develop standards for noise reduction. The original 2014 guidelines were not obligatory. The International Whaling Commission is calling for a 50% reduction of noise from ships in the next ten years, while experts have suggested 40% as the reduction target.
Why is it important? – ocean noise pollution
Marine animals rely on noise to hunt, evade their enemies, and stay together. Unlike plastic, noise disappears naturally when the source of the sound is gone, which makes it more manageable among all other ocean disturbances.
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