Addressing Underwater Noise Pollution in EU Waters: Urgent Action Needed
Whales, dolphins, and other marine life are severely impacted by underwater noise pollution caused primarily by shipping activities in EU waters. Urgent implementation of stricter regulations based on IMO guidelines is essential to reduce noise levels and protect marine ecosystems. Recommendations include quieter ship technologies and strategies to mitigate noise at the source to ensure a healthier marine environment by minimizing the detrimental effects of noise pollution.
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Presentation Transcript
13/01/2021 epanella@ifaw
Setting the scene Shipping is an important transport sector with a growing participation in the global economy and a significant and increasing environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gases and air pollutants emissions. Noise pollution is invisible to the eye, but it covers the sounds of nature, and excessive noise from human activities impedes natural sounds or the perception of natural sounds by wildlife. Under the 2008 MSFD, European governments were required to take action in several areas, to make our seas clean and healthy again by 2020. One of these areas is underwater noise, which should be reduced to levels that do not adversely affect the marine environment.
The Problem Whales, dolphins, porpoises, fish and other marine life are deeply affected by underwater noise pollution because they rely on sound for survival, to find food, to communicate with one another and to navigate. In EU waters, shipping constitutes a major human continuous noise source. A small proportion of ships contribute most of the noise it has been estimated that the noisiest 15% contribute more than half of the noise energy globally 3
Recommendations Determined action to improve the situation is still lacking. . The EU needs to implement more urgent and binding incentives and rules for the quieting of ships, based on the existing guidelines of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Need appropriate steps to minimise the sound at source. Implementing reducing vessel noise through application of the IMO guidelines and slower steaming are key. to ensure all industries take strategies for 4
