Noise Pollution

Noise Pollution

Shipping, marine industries and military activities around the world are introducing powerful, loud noise into the oceans.  This noise pollution threatens whale and dolphin populations, interrupting their normal behaviour, driving them away from areas important to their survival, and at worse injuring or sometimes even resulting in the deaths of some whales.

Seismic surveying conducted by the oil and gas industry, shipping, boat traffic, pile driving, marine industries  and navy sonars are all sources of marine noise pollution.

Hearing is the primary sense of all whales, dolphins and porpoises.  They rely on it heavily to survive, using it to find prey, communicate and navigate.  A deaf whale or dolphin will almost certainly rapidly end up dead.

WDCS researches noise pollution in our oceans, exposing the threat and putting pressure on industries and governments around the world to reduce, mitigate and where possible eliminate the impacts.