And in some cases, measures can be taken to make the activity itself quieter, through the application of quieting designs. In the meantime, we’re working with partners on new and innovative techniques to further reduce risk while noisy activities are happening, such as placing observers in the area to stop activities when marine mammals come within a certain distance. One basic thing we still need to learn more about is how noisy it is in different ocean soundscapes and how those levels are changing through time. The Strategy includes steps to improve what we know about underwater noise, and how we can work to minimize adverse effects of ocean noise on marine species and habitats. The strategy is a NOAA initiative that seeks to guide the agency toward more comprehensive and effective management of the effects of man-made ocean noise over the next decade. In the fall of 2016, NOAA released our final Ocean Noise Strategy Roadmap. With these maps complete, NOAA began to push forward on a long-term visionary plan regarding ocean noise effects. Scientists can use these maps, along with other information, to better understand what is happening underwater and where higher levels of human-produced noise overlap with the marine mammals. waters, and another to predict levels of underwater noise from human activities. This led to two complementary efforts-one to produce maps of where these animals are located and in what densities within U.S. waters tracking ocean noise levels over time for the federal government. Ports in British Columbia, Canada, are creating incentives for shipping companies to figure out how much noise they make compared to other ships and reward those with good environmental status.Ĭurrent number of underwater reference stations in U.S. The United States is not alone in these efforts. Because large shipping companies face pressure to comply with stricter carbon emission standards, propeller changes in tomorrow’s ships could help both shipping operators and the environment. One question is whether a quieter propeller that produces less noise would also be more efficient to make up the difference in upfront cost. In addition to noise, those bubbles are thought to create fuel inefficiency. For example, propellers can create bubbles underwater that burst with a signature sound. We’re finding win-win solutions to some of our problems. NOAA will continue to work with partners, including those within the shipping industry, to incentivize building new and retrofitting existing ships to be quieter. Coast Guard at the helm) led a group within the International Maritime Organization in ratifying voluntary guidelines on ways that ships can reduce noise. Other measures seek to reduce noise exposure for sensitive ecosystems within areas of designated national significance, like National Marine Sanctuaries.īecause shipping traffic is such a major contributor to chronic noise, in 2014 the United States (with NOAA and the U.S. For example, some measures can avoid noisy activities in specific places when they are important to protected animals or are important to fishery species. If those sounds could negatively affect marine animals or their habitat, NOAA can require measures and can recommend best practices to reduce negative effects. And sometimes how people use the marine environment can affect daily life and functions of marine species.įor this reason, NOAA works with other federal agencies and industries, who are proposing projects that might affect marine species and their habitat-such as oil and gas exploration and drilling, construction, or military training activities-that create loud underwater sounds over specified periods of time. But with the advent of the industrial age, people have drastically altered the underwater soundscape over the course of roughly a century. These animals have had 40 to 50 million years or more to evolve in their acoustic environment.
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