Whether it’s whirring propellers from shipping, sonar from navy vessels, or the construction noise from offshore industry – underwater noise pollution has for a long-time been the rather less visible crisis suffered by the ocean’s biodiversity, impacting ocean health and the health of wildlife including whales and dolphins.

A High Ambition Coalition made up of dozens of nations from across the globe has this week been launched to address these factors and start to take steps to mitigate noise pollution and provide a safer ocean environment for the life within it.

Launched this week at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, the initiative is being led by governments in Canada and Panama who have each pledged and now call upon nations around the world to unite to address the growing problem of ocean noise and the impacts it is having on life in the ocean, including on whales.

“Canada has the world’s longest coastline, thousands of migratory and resident whales, and coastal communities around the country that depend on healthy oceans,” said Dr Kristin Westdal, science director at Oceans North, an environmental NGO that has been crucial to development of the Coalition Ambition.

“As a marine biologist who has spent many years tracking how underwater soundscapes are changing and how marine mammals are responding – especially in the Arctic – I’m grateful to see Canadian leadership on this issue, as well as so many other countries stepping up.”

Many animals in the ocean rely on sound to help feed, navigate, and reproduce and noise can affect their behaviour in a number of ways. Narwhal, for example, use a variety of vocalisations that can be masked by the sound from ships that are increasingly present in the Arctic as sea ice declines and industries expand.

“Narwhal communicate with whistles, clicks, and buzzing sounds,” said Westdal. “Some of these calls overlap with frequencies generated by the ships.” 

The result of this is that narwhal may start to avoid certain areas, which will cause issues for both the whales and the communities that depend on their presence.

“Too often, the issue of ocean noise has been sidelined in global environmental discourse,” said The Honourable Juan Carlos Navarro, Minister of Environment for Panama. “With this Coalition, we are committing to act decisively to protect marine biodiversity from this invisible yet powerful threat.”

Beyond gauging existing impacts, the Coalition will also work to bring countries together to develop policies and technologies that help to mitigate underwater noise. The Coalition’s declaration outlines an ambitious agenda that will include advancing quieter ship design and operations, and taking noise reduction measures into account in the creation and management of marine protected areas.

Sharon Livermore, Director of Marine Conservation with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), said: “Through this Coalition, world leaders are recognising that underwater noise is not just a nuisance – it’s a barrier to survival for whales, dolphins, and countless other marine species. 

“IFAW welcomes this bold step toward a quieter ocean, and we stand ready to support the action needed to address this pervasive pollutant and let marine life thrive once more.”

Beluga whales can detect sounds from icebreaking ships up to 85 kilometres (52 miles) away, causing panic and flight, while other marine mammals change their behaviour under acoustic stress. Smaller prey for bigger ocean dwellers can also be scared off by human-made noise.

One of the biggest contributors to underwater noise is cargo vessels, and cutting the acoustic footprint of the global shipping industry could have a major impact. But despite the recognition of its impact, global efforts to reduce ocean noise “have been limited and fragmented”, the coalition said.

Speaking on behalf of the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Minister of Transport and Internal Trade – The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Canada’s Ambassador to France and Monaco, emphasised the urgency of collective action.

“Ocean noise is a global issue that requires ambitious global cooperation. Through this Coalition, we are demonstrating Canada’s commitment to international leadership on ocean conservation and inviting our partners to join us in restoring a quieter, healthier ocean for future generations, while supporting sustainable economic activity.”

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