For a moment last spring, things got very quiet in the oceans. The drop in human activity that came with the pandemic resulted in drastic and voluntary sound reductions that ran the underwater gamut: from a drop in shipping noise,… Read More ›
Noise Pollution
Airgun Blasts Set for Alaska–Endangering Beluga Whales
Seismic blasting used in oil exploration can reach 250 decibels and be heard for miles. It can cause hearing loss, disorientation and disturb essential marine mammal behaviors such as feeding and breeding. Just over 300 Cook Inlet beluga whales are left after four more washed up dead in Cook Inlet in the past two weeks.
New Threats to Orca Population
For Marine Life, New Threats from a Fast-Tracked Canadian Pipeline A new Canadian government-backed pipeline that will triple the amount of thick Alberta tar sands oil flowing to a British Columbia port poses significant risks for a threatened population… Read More ›
The Invasive Sound of Noise in the Sea
Water is much denser than air, so its molecules are packed tighter together. This means that sound (which relies on molecules vibrating and pushing against one another) propagates muchfurther and faster under water than in air.
Maps Proposed for Acoustic Sanctuaries
A new study has identified some of acoustic sanctuaries off the coast of British Columbia in the hope that they may be protected. Researchers emphasize that these opportunity sites can be protected with little change to current shipping patterns, which… Read More ›
Navy Agrees to Limit Sonar
HONOLULU >> The Navy agreed to limit its use of sonar and other training that inadvertently harms whales, dolphins and other marine mammals off Hawaii and California in a settlement with environmental groups approved Monday. A centerpiece of the agreement… Read More ›
Rescue Attempt for 150 Beached Dolphins in Japan
April 10, 2015. Rescuers were forced to abandon their efforts to save 149 dolphins that were stranded on a beach in Japan after working tirelessly all day to help the creatures. As darkness fell on the beach in Hokota, around… Read More ›
Gulf of Mexico Seismic Surveys Partially Halted
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Oil and gas companies working in the Gulf of Mexico have agreed not to use seismic surveys for the next 2 ½ years in three areas considered critical to whales and along the coast during the… Read More ›
Oceana Assesses Atlantic Coast Seismic Impact
Editor’s Note: The debate about the safety of seismic airgun blasts for research purposes along America’s coastlines, has moved from Central California to the Atlantic coast, ranging from Delaware to Florida. The following assesment is from Oceana: Overview The U.S…. Read More ›
Maritime Group Set Noise Guidelines For Whale Protection
From International Fund for Animal Welfare Underwater noise pollution from ships poses a serious threat to whales and dolphins. So it’s great that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is now developing guidelines to reduce the levels of underwater noise created… Read More ›