Environmental Impact of Underwater Noise

The description of sound as a form of energetic pollutant is very complex as is also its impact on aquatic life. Human activities causing continuous and implosive underwater noise, such as marine traffic, maintenance of ships, coastal tourism, marine research, military, offshore energy platforms, generation of ocean energies and construction operations are expected to increase. The paper analyses current approach to minimise the impact of underwater noise and limit its emissions, examines regulatory approach and discusses the possibilities to control this type of pollution in order to ensure the preservation of natural underwater soundscape. The timely implementation and further development of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive and its provisions related to underwater noise is of exceptional importance for the Adriatic Sea, which is facing increasing pressure from various industries generating underwater noise

Underwater Noise from Arctic Shipping: Impacts, Regulations and Recommendations

Marine mammals, including whales, walrus, and seals, rely heavily on sounds for survival. The Arctic soundscape has long been shaped by their clicks and calls. The rapid loss of summer sea ice that's been observed in recent years is opening this once largely inaccessible region to ship traffic. The low-frequency sounds that ships generate propagate efficiently and travel vast distances in deep water marine environments. This means that the Arctic is becoming noisier, which could have a profound impact on marine mammals

On the applications of a compact autonomous acoustic recorder

A number of acoustic A compact acoustic recorder, primarily designed for underwater noise monitoring, is presented in this paper. The Self-Register Hydrophone has been used in several occasions during the past three years, in underwater noise monitoring activities. However, this kind of device also find application in other areas such as array processing and passive acoustic monitoring of marine mammals. An overview on the application of the Self-Register Hydrophone is given herein

Ocean Governance

There are a range of legal instruments, institutions, and organizations that collectively establish rules and policies for managing, conserving, and using the ocean. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides the overarching legal framework for ocean governance and management on a global scale, but there are a number of other important ocean governance-related institutions, instruments and processes. This document provides a brief overview of those institutions and processes that are most relevant to multi-sectoral business and industry interests, with a particular emphasis on opportunities for industry to get involved in the policy-making process. It does not include policies, institutions, and processes that are primarily relevant to a single sector. After first reviewing key aspects of UNCLOS, this document discusses other key ocean policy and governance processes and bodies

Monitoring Guidance for Underwater Noise in European Seas- Part II: Monitoring Guidance Specifications

This document has been prepared by the Technical Subgroup on Underwater Noise and other forms of Energy (TSG Noise), established in 2010 by the Marine Directors, i.e. the representatives of directorates or units in European Union Member States, Acceding Countries, Candidate Countries and EFTA Member States dealing with or responsible for marine issues. In December 2011, the Marine Directors requested the TSG Noise to provide monitoring guidance that could be used by Member States in establishing monitoring schemes to meet the needs of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive indicators for underwater noise in their marine waters. This document presents the recommendations and information needed to commence the monitoring required for underwater noise.JRC.H.1-Water Resource

Sensitivity of Pagurus bernhardus (L.) to substrate-borne vibration and anthropogenic noise

© 2015 Elsevier B.V. Despite the prevalence of vibration produced by anthropogenic activities impacting the seabed there are few data and little information as to whether these are detected by crustaceans and whether they interfere with their behaviour. Here the sensitivity of unconditioned Pagurus bernhardus to substrate-borne vibration was quantified by exposure to sinusoidal vibrations of 5-410Hz of varied amplitudes using the staircase method of threshold determination, with threshold representing the detection of the response and two behavioural responses used as reception indicators: movement of the second antenna and onset or cessation of locomotion. Thresholds were compared to measured vibrations close to anthropogenic operations and to the time in captivity prior to tests. Behaviour varied according to the strength of the stimulus with a significant difference in average threshold values between the two behavioural indicators, although there was an overlap between the two, with overall sensitivity ranging from 0.09-0.44ms -2 (root mean squared, RMS). Crabs of shortest duration in captivity prior to tests had significantly greater sensitivity to vibration, down to 0.02ms -2 (RMS). The sensitivity of P. bernhardus fell well within the range of vibrations measured near anthropogenic operations. The data indicate that anthropogenic substrate-borne vibrations have a clear effect on the behaviour of a common marine crustacean. The study emphasises that these vibrations are an important component of noise pollution that requires further attention to understand the long term effects on marine crustaceans