Ocean Noise: The Human Footprint on Underwater Soundscapes

Abstract

You may have heard that our oceans are under threat due to the impacts of climate change, plastic pollution, and ocean acidification. But there is another threat that must be highlighted—noise pollution. Humans are becoming more and more reliant on the ocean for transportation and renewable energy, but these activities introduce noise. Every fishing vessel, cruise ship, ferry, cargo ship, and jet ski leaves a sound “footprint,” meaning our oceans are becoming increasingly noisy places. Many animals, including whales, dolphins, and fish, produce unique sounds—and scientists are looking at how man-made noises are affecting their communication, behavior, and habitats. We hope to discover ways to create harmony between humans and marine wildlife, to reduce the impact of noise pollution on marine ecosystems. In this article, we will introduce how marine species use sound, how noise pollution affects them, and how they are adapting to sharing their environments with humans.