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UNDERWATER NOISE POLLUTION Deafening,
dangerous and deadly

The ocean is a habitat full of natural sounds, yet humans generate deafening noise under water. This has fatal consequences for marine life which relies on acoustic senses for orientation, communication or searching for prey.

OceanCare has been a loud voice for quieter seas since 2002. We ensure that noise pollution is addressed by governments and international bodies and we engage to reduce noise emissions. In some ocean regions, noise levels have doubled every decade since the 1950s. Noise pollution drives animals out of their habitat,  makes them sick and or even kill them.

Who causes underwater noise?

The major sources of noise

How harmful is noise in the seas?

The suffering under water

What needs to be done urgently?

What OceanCare calls for

OceanCare's goals on underwater noise

Unterwasserlärm: Frachtschiff

Slow down!

The faster and larger ships are, the louder they get. Reducing vessel speed is the most effective measure which results in an immediate reduction of underwater noise as well as emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants. This is what OceanCare is campaigning for.

Learn more
Delfine unter Wasser

Create quiet zones

Diverse and biologically important marine regions must be protected from noise pollution. OceanCare successfully achieved that in 2018 the waters between the Balearic Islands and the Spanish mainland were designated as a marine protected area and seismic surveys got rejected.

Unterwasserlärm: Ölplattform im Meer

Stop searching for oil & gas

The search for oil and gas in the seabed involves the use of airguns which are among the loudest sources  emitting highly intense noise blasts. Oil and gas prospection threatens marine life and is not compatible with international climate goals. Help us to stop it.

NEWS

More shadows than lights at crucial IMO meeting

80th meeting of IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee concludes Significant but insufficient improvement of the current IMO Decarbonisation Strategy which will make it very difficult for shipping to contribute to the Paris Agreement target of limiting the Earth's temperature increase to 1.5ºC. New updated Guidelines for the reduction of underwater...
July 7, 2023
Containerschiffe im Hafen von Singapur

Global pressure on IMO to take key decisions on decarbonisation of shipping and to protect whales from strikes

3-7 July: crucial meeting of IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). Whether or not to commit to full decarbonisation of shipping in line with the Paris Agreement in 2050 with ambitious interim targets for 2030 and 2040. The adoption of new Guidelines for the reduction of underwater noise. Protect endangered...
June 28, 2023
Unterwasserlärm Kampagnenbild Wal mit Kopfhörer

Three industrial sectors have the tools to quieten the ocean

The Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), an environmental treaty of the United Nations, publishes a technical report to avoid, reduce and mitigate underwater noise pollution prepared by an OceanCare underwater noise expert.
June 8, 2023
Schnabelwal

Highly unusual beaked whale strandings in Cyprus caused by naval exercises

Beaked whales, which are a group of deep-diving medium-sized whales, are known to be especially vulnerable to loud human noises. They are rarely seen close to shore and they rarely strand. In recent years, unusual mass strandings of beaked whales around the world have been linked to loud noise events...
February 28, 2023
Tiefseebergbau

Scientists warn: Noise from deep-sea mining would threaten whales

A research paper recently published in Frontiers in Marine Science (Thompson, K.F., et al.) sheds light on the threats that deep-sea mining would inflict on large marine species such as whales and sharks. While assessments of mining impacts for obvious reasons so far have focused on species living on or...
February 24, 2023
Unterwasserlärm: Ölplattform im Meer

COP27: a missed opportunity also for the Mediterranean basin.

As we had feared, the recently concluded COP27 has been a climate summit hijacked by the oil and gas companies in such a way that no progress has been made on commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the growing seriousness of the climate emergency, the text drafted by the...
November 20, 2022
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STORIES ON OCEAN NOISE POLLUTION

Story

High Seas Treaty (UNCLOS BBNJ)

Read now
BBNJ International Cooperation Plastic Pollution
Story

Major Shipping Company slows down to protect Whales

Read now
Collisions Underwater Noise Pollution Whales
Story

International Maritime Organisation (IMO)

Read now
Collisions International Cooperation Underwater Noise Pollution
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Ocean noise: A serious threat for marine life

Seismic airguns - like the ones you hear at the end of the video - are used to search for oil and gas in the seabed. For weeks, they generate impulsive noise of up to 260 decibels every 10 to 15 seconds.

10 FACTS ABOUT UNDERWATER NOISE POLLUTION

Sound travels almost five times faster in the sea than in the air.

In EU waters, underwater noise emissions doubled between 2014 and 2019.

Blue and fin whales make sounds to find mates over hundreds of kilometres.

Negative impacts due to noise have been documented for at least 150 marine animal species.

Reducing the speed of the global shipping fleet by 10-20% causes a reduction of noise emissions by 40 and 67%, respectively.

Airguns used to search for oil and gas under the sea floor emit noise of  up to 260 decibels every 10-15 seconds.

Following seismic tests in the North Atlantic, local fish catch-rates dropped by up to 70%.

Shots from an airgun can kill all krill larvae within a radius of 1.2 kilometres.

Seismic tests generate 100 times more noise than normal background noise over a radius of up to 300,000 km2.

Seismic airgun noise can penetrate thousands of metres of water and dozens to hundreds of kilometres of seabed.

Publications on ocean noise

Report: Noise Mitigation (BAT/BEP), CMS/OceanCare, 2023

56 pages, PDF

Underwater Noise Pollution: Joint Statement UN Ocean Conference 2022

2 pages, PDF

Briefing: Ocean Noise and the SDGs

6 pages, PDF

UN BBNJ PrepCom II: Statement Ocean Noise, 2016

2 pages, PDF

UN BBNJ 2018: Intervention OceanCare

2 pages, PDF

UN BBNJ IGC3: Briefing Transboundary Pollution, 2020

7 pages, PDF
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Your donation for quiet oceans

Support OceanCare’s demand for a speed reduction of transport shipping, as already 10% less speed would reduce shipping noise emissions significantly. 

Donate now

JOIN US IN SUPPORTING MARINE CONSERVATION

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Every amount is of value and will help to protect the ocean and its inhabitants both today and in the future.


    With your interest

    Take a dive into the underwater world: In the e-newsletter you can find out what OceanCare is doing for marine life on an ongoing basis.

      About OceanCare
      OceanCare has been committed to marine wildlife protection since 1989.

      The organisation holds Special Consultative Status on marine issues with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
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