Marine Mammals

Marine Mammal Sonar Disturbance

Military and commercial sonar systems cause mass stranding events and chronic behavioral disruption in cetaceans, with beaked whales being particularly vulnerable to acoustic trauma.

Key Facts

Mid-frequency sonar has been linked to mass stranding events of beaked whales since the 1990s
Acoustic trauma causes hemorrhaging in the inner ear and gas bubble formation in tissues
Behavioral displacement from sonar pushes whales from critical feeding and breeding areas
Shipping noise alone has doubled oceanic ambient noise levels every decade since the 1960s
Speed reductions and route modifications by ships significantly reduce acoustic disturbance

Welfare Considerations

Sonar-induced mass strandings kill or severely injure dozens to hundreds of cetaceans per event. Necropsies reveal hemorrhaging, emboli, and tissue damage consistent with the physiological response to extreme acoustic stimulation. Beyond acute events, chronic shipping noise forces behavioral changes that increase energy expenditure and reduce foraging efficiency — a diffuse but widespread welfare cost across millions of cetaceans.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for sonar use restrictions in biologically sensitive areas
Advocate for quiet shipping standards and routing schemes
Donate to ocean noise pollution research and advocacy organizations
Choose ocean cruise operators that commit to lower speed in whale habitats
Raise awareness about the welfare impacts of ocean noise pollution