Marine Wildlife

Marine Mammal Acoustic Ecology and Welfare

Anthropogenic noise from shipping, sonar, and industrial activity degrades the acoustic environment for marine mammals, interfering with communication, navigation, and foraging.

Key Facts

Shipping noise has increased significantly in all ocean basins over the past 50 years
Humpback whale songs have changed in response to anthropogenic noise interference
Military sonar causes beaked whale strandings through acoustic trauma and decompression
Underwater pile driving during wind farm construction generates noise levels harmful to harbour porpoise
Acoustic refuges free from anthropogenic noise are increasingly rare in the world's oceans

Welfare Considerations

Marine mammals depend on acoustic environments for communication, prey detection, navigation, and social bonding. Anthropogenic noise that masks or disrupts these acoustic signals causes welfare harm through communication interference, navigation errors, and in severe cases direct acoustic injury.

What You Can Do

Support international agreements to reduce shipping noise through vessel speed reduction and hull design
Advocate for strict acoustic impact assessments before underwater construction activities
Reduce your carbon footprint to reduce demand for shipping and fossil fuel extraction