The sea … nothing is so relaxing. Nearly nothing. But … is it still like that? Is the ocean still an oasis of peace? No. Noise pollution dominates the sea and reaches dangerous limits. It is increasingly a strict cacophony. The noise of human activity has become louder and more frequent. This is the result of an international study published in the journal Science. Researchers from the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) participate.
Naval choir
The researcher Carlos Duarte and his colleagues from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia explain this. The rapidly changing soundscape of the oceans affects all marine life. Mitigating these effects is key to a healthier ocean.
The natural chorus of the world’s oceans is interpreted through a variety of geological (geophony) and biological (biophony) sounds. However, more than a century ago, the sounds of human activity on the high seas predominated. Fishing, shipping and development. And human activity has silenced some areas of the ocean. The hunt for large noisy marine mammals such as whales plays a role.
Our noise has a negative impact on marine animals. It changes their behavior, physiology, and in some cases their overall survival. The harmful effects of noise pollution could quickly decrease. As? Regulation of sources of marine noise.
“The changing soundscapes of the oceans are the ‘elephant in space’ of global ocean change. Societies refer to the “blue economy” as a source of resources and prosperity. However, it is important that the oceans’ soundscapes are managed responsibly. This is the only way we can guarantee the sustainable use of the ocean. This will not work if the noise pollution dominates the sea. ‘
