Noise pollution drowning out marine mammals

“Ocean noise is an invisible but potentially deadly form of pollution.  IFAW is calling on governments to recognize ocean noise as a pollutant and act now to turn it down,” said Jorge Luis Basave, IFAW Asia Pacific Campaigner.

“Ocean noise has doubled in each of the past four decades. The world’s 100,000-strong commercial shipping fleet is the biggest single man-made noise generator - and by 2025 the gross cargo tonnage shipped internationally is forecast to double or even triple,” Mr Basave said.

IFAW’s report follows growing concerns amongst scientists and international bodies, including the United Nations, about ocean noise. It reveals that man-made noise is already making it harder for marine mammals to use their own sounds or echo-location to find food, prey and mates, to navigate and form group bonds.

The report also tells how ocean noise pollution is causing marine mammals to abandon habitat and vital activities such as feeding, as well as altering their surfacing and diving. Some whales have been forced to change their calls as they struggle to make themselves heard and the distance over which blue whales can communicate has been reduced by a staggering 90 per cent.

“Humanity is literally drowning out marine mammals,” Mr Basave said.

High intensity sound from sources such as shipping, seismic surveys for oil and gas exploration and military sonar pose serious threats. The colossal sounds these emit, well over 200 decibels, can damage the hearing of marine animals. High intensity sonar has also been linked by scientists to fatal strandings of whales and dolphins. For example, in a 2001 joint report with the National Marine Fisheries Service the US Navy accepted for the first time that sonar used by its ships was the most plausible cause of the beaching of 16 whales in the Bahamas in March 2000.

Industry and the military do take some action to reduce the threats of ocean noise to marine life but in reality they are still operating in areas of critical habitat for marine mammal species.  IFAW is calling for international bodies and national governments to recognize man-made noise as a form of pollution and to prohibit potentially harmful sound sources in sensitive and protected areas for marine species that are vulnerable to ocean noise pollution.


For media-related inquiries, contact:
Kerry Glenn, IFAW Asia Pacific Communications Officer
Tel: +61 9288 4993
Mobile: 0437 414 329
Email: kglenn@ifaw.org