A Minute to Understand Underwater Noise Pollution

The level of human-caused (anthropogenic) noise in the oceans has doubled every ten years since the 1960s.

The noise comes from commercial shipping, seismic surveys, sonar technology, industrial activities, offshore construction (wind farms, platforms), and mining. These noises are classified into two categories: “non-impulsive” (continuous, such as shipping traffic) and “impulsive” (brief, intense pulses).

Marine animals (cetaceans, as well as fish, turtles, crustaceans, etc.) use sound to communicate, navigate, and hunt. Excessive noise leads to:

- Physical injuries and hearing loss (temporary or permanent).

- Masking of vital sounds (calls from mates, sounds of prey).

- Abandonment of critical habitat areas.

- Direct death (in the case of extreme impulsive sounds).

The CMS emphasizes the importance of incorporating noise risk as early as the project planning phase through enhanced Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA).

Technical and Industrial Collaboration:

The CMS works with a specialized working group (JNWG) comprising scientific and policy experts. An Industry Advisory Group (IAG) has been established to assess the technical feasibility of mitigation measures and promote the use of the best available technologies.