Wildlife

Wild Animal Welfare and Marine Noise Pollution

Marine noise pollution from shipping, sonar, and seismic surveys causes welfare harm to cetaceans and other marine animals.

Key Facts

Shipping noise has doubled in the North Atlantic every decade for the past 50 years
Noise pollution masks cetacean communication signals, disrupting feeding and social behaviour
Military sonar has been linked to mass cetacean strandings through acoustic trauma
Seismic surveys for oil and gas exploration cause tissue damage and behaviour disruption
Vessel speed reduction and routing changes significantly reduce shipping noise impacts

Welfare Considerations

Marine noise pollution causes direct welfare harm through stress, communication disruption, and physical injury. Vessel routing, speed restrictions, and sonar management reduce these impacts.

What You Can Do

Support designation of quiet areas for cetaceans in marine planning
Advocate for international agreements on military sonar welfare protocols
Choose shipping companies and cruise lines with noise reduction commitments