Anthropogenic noise from shipping, sonar and construction affects fish behaviour, physiology and welfare. Reducing marine noise pollution has measurable welfare benefits.
Marine noise pollution is an emerging animal welfare concern that affects billions of fish across the world's oceans. Sound is the primary sensory modality for many fish species — noise pollution that interferes with communication, predator detection and navigation causes chronic stress and impairs survival. High-intensity noise events from seismic surveys and construction cause acute physical injury. The cumulative welfare impact across global fish populations from rising ocean noise levels is substantial. Regulatory frameworks for marine noise typically focus on cetaceans but increasingly need to account for fish welfare as evidence of their sentience strengthens.