The Growing Threat of Ocean Noise Pollution and How You Can Help

We’ve all seen the devastating impacts of pollution like plastic in our oceans, but few realize there’s another insidious type of pollution lurking beneath the surface – ocean noise pollution. Negatively impacting marine life for decades, ocean noise is one of the biggest threats facing our oceans today.

Sound is hugely important for aquatic animals like whales and dolphins – they use it to communicate, hunt for food and navigate vast underwater territories. But as human activities at sea have increased dramatically over the past century, we’ve flooded the oceans with noise of our own making.

Studies show ocean noise levels have doubled every decade since the 1940s, disrupting entire ecosystems. Some species like endangered right whales are being pushed closer to extinction as they struggle to make themselves heard over anthropogenic din.

In this article, we’ll explore what exactly ocean noise pollution is, statistics on its escalating presence, how it harms marine life and ecosystems, as well as solutions we can support to curb this growing problem. By gaining a deeper understanding of ocean noise, we can work to protect our oceans for future generations.

What is Ocean Noise Pollution?

Ocean noise pollution refers to the excessive and disruptive sounds caused by human activity at sea that negatively impact natural ocean noises. These sounds are predominantly low-frequency and can travel vast underwater distances – some as far as 3,000 miles from their source.

Sources of damaging ocean noise pollution

– Shipping: cargo ships are one of the biggest culprits, with vessel traffic more than doubling over the past two decades. Their powerful engines and propellers generate constant, low-level noise.

– Oil/gas surveys: seismic airgun blasts used to map fossil fuel deposits can raise ambient noise by over 200 decibels – injuring or even killing ocean life near the source.

– Construction: pile driving to build docks/piers and underwater pile drilling creates repeated loud impulses that carry for miles.

– Military sonar: used to detect submarines but also disorients and damages whales’ hearing through intense sound pulses.

– Offshore drilling: platforms, drill ships and seismic exploration add constant mid-frequency noise atop natural marine sounds.

Ocean Noise Pollution Statistics

Studies indicate ocean noise levels are escalating at an unsustainable rate, jeopardizing ocean life:

– Shipping contributes over 60% of ambient noise in oceans today – levels have doubled each decade since 1950.

– Anthropogenic noise exceeds natural ambient levels in much of the northeast Pacific and northeast Atlantic oceans.

– Noise from passing vessels can raise background levels by 20 decibels, and may disturb marine animals from over 100 miles away.

– Seismic airgun blasts are up to 10,000 times louder than levels disturbing some cetaceans – impact zones cover hundreds of square miles.

– NOAA reports low-frequency sounds from human sources now extend into remote polar ocean regions unchanged for millennia.

Clearly, human-made ocean noise pollution has become tremendously intense, and its impacts can no longer be ignored. But how does all this noise harm ocean life, and what can we do to help reverse its effects?

The Impacts of Ocean Noise Pollution on Marine Life

Excessive noise interferes with marine life’s vital functions in dangerous ways, some of which can even lead to death:

1. Masks Communication: Noise masks communication between aquatic animals, limiting crucial social behaviors like finding mates, navigating and warning of predators.

2. Disrupts Echolocation: In creatures like dolphins and whales, noise impedes their ability to echolocate for hunting and navigation using sound.

3. Induces Stress: Prolonged noise exposure overwhelms marine nervous systems, causing chronic stress that harms immunity and reproductive success.

4. Damages Hearing: Intense impulses like seismic blasts and sonar can literally rupture ears and damage hearing permanently in whales/dolphins.

5. Alters Behaviors: Animals change resting, nursing, feeding and migration patterns to avoid noise, over long distances sometimes ending in malnutrition or strandings.

6. Loss of Prey: Noise obscures fish/invertebrates from predators, impacting population dynamics and the structure of marine ecosystems.

By degrading acoustic habitats, ocean noise pollution negatively impacts not just individual well-being but the survival of entire species. Continued increases may irrevocably disrupt ocean life unless we commit to solutions.

You may also like to read: How do oceans contribute to global warming?

Taking Action Against Ocean Noise Pollution

There are several meaningful actions we can support to rein in rampant ocean noise and protect marine creatures worldwide:

1. Use Quieter ships: Encourage greener designs with quieter engines/propellers and noise-absorbing hull coatings for all new vessels.

2. Establish Safe Zones: Advocate protected acoustic sanctuaries for especially noise-sensitive species like endangered whales that avoid all human-caused noise.

3. Limit Noisey Surveys: Restrict oil/gas seismic blasting seasons/locations near habitats, and mandate use of alternative low-impact methods like gravitational sensors.

4. Cut Port/Ship Noise: Test and deploy active noise reduction technologies at busy ports and for pile driving, ship sonars where proven safe & practical.

5. Enforce Regulations: Strengthen existing limits on offshore/commercial/navy noise levels to curb escalating environmental impacts with enforceable monitoring.

6. Support Research: Donate to organizations advancing hydrophone networks and tagging tech to better track/understand changes to marine soundscapes over time.

7. Educate Others: Share what you’ve learned here about ocean noise pollution and its devastating consequences to raise awareness wherever possible.

Working together, we can curb this modern form of pollution and help restore natural balance to the oceans upon which all life depends. Every small act to lower our noise footprint counts – what will you do to protect marine life from humanity’s din?