Protect Whales from Harmful Ocean Noise

Now imagine hearing that sound in your own home.

For many of the world's whales and marine mammals, the oceans are dominated by such sounds.

Human sources of ocean noise, such as shipping, oil and gas production, underwater construction, and military activities have dramatically increased the amount of background noise in the world’s seas - in some areas to harmful levels.

For animals like whales that rely on their acoustic abilities for survival, human-caused sounds can lead not only to permanent hearing loss and injury, but also to death.

IFAW believes that all sources of powerful manmade ocean noise must be regulated to protect whales from harmful effects.

Sound moves very efficiently through water, and whales have evolved over millions of years to use sound in the ocean for survival. Highly acoustic by nature, whales use their sensitive hearing and unique vocalizations to communicate with each other, find mates, locate food, avoid predators, and navigate.

For example, the low frequency vocalizations of blue whales travel hundreds of miles across ocean basins to communicate with other blue whales. Male Humpback whales sing long complex songs to attract females and their songs change every year.

Now imagine the devastating impact loud noise can have on the lives of whales and other marine mammals. Many sources of ocean noise, including shipping and military sonar, are not monitored or controlled.

IFAW works with the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), Ocean Futures Society, and other like-minded organizations to improve protection for whales from harmful human-generated noises, with particular emphasis on high-intensity military active sonar systems.

To learn more about ocean noise and the continual threat it poses to the world's whales, click on one of the links below.