Marine Wildlife

Marine Noise Pollution and Cetacean Welfare

Human-generated noise from shipping, seismic surveys, and military sonar disrupts cetacean communication, navigation, and welfare on a global scale.

Key Facts

Ambient ocean noise has doubled every decade for 60 years due to shipping
Cetaceans rely on sound for navigation, foraging, and communication
Military sonar has been linked to mass strandings of beaked whales in multiple incidents
Seismic airgun surveys used in oil exploration produce sounds audible over thousands of kilometres
The International Whaling Commission has recognised noise pollution as a significant conservation threat

Welfare Considerations

Noise pollution causes cetaceans to alter communication patterns, abandon feeding areas, and in extreme cases strand on beaches. Beaked whales are particularly vulnerable to military sonar frequencies, with stranding events documented worldwide. Chronic shipping noise causes chronic stress. Mass strandings associated with sonar exposure result in death from decompression-like injuries. Individual welfare impacts are difficult to measure but clearly significant.

What You Can Do

Support regulations requiring acoustic impact assessments for all marine developments
Advocate for shipping speed restrictions in important cetacean habitat areas
Support WDC (Whale and Dolphin Conservation) campaigns on ocean noise
Oppose seismic surveying in critical cetacean habitat
Follow ORCA Marine Noise Pollution research and campaign work