Marine noise pollution and its impacts on fish: priorities, models, and methods for mitigation

Abstract

The effects of noise on aquatic life is a topic of growing international concern. Underwater noise can impact both the physiology and behaviour of fish species on a wide-ranging scale, from minor changes and adaptations to major injury and death. Future mitigation of anthropogenic noise in the ocean is dependent on greater awareness of the effects of noise, the amount of risk, and degree of harm, likely to affect fish populations. Currently, there is a lack of incentive formitigation measures to be put in place. Knowledge and evidence of the impacts of anthropogenic noise on fish is rapidly increasing (Figure 1.2) but with over 32,000 species of fish of differing conservation and commercial importance, it is extremely difficult to decide where to focus research for maximum benefit (Hawkins et al., 2015). Predictions and assumptions aboutpotential impacts lack accuracy as variations in experimental equipment and techniques, lack ofagreed standards, different algorithms for analysis, ambiguous and interchangeable terminology,and different quantities, units and metrics, all lead to incongruities (ISVR Consulting, 2004;Barlow et al., 2014; Rogers et al., 2016). Often it is not possible to compare studies or makegeneralisations (OSPAR, 2009; Wilcock et al., 2014). Here the aim is to aid the mitigation process by directing research priorities toward the most vulnerable fish species, and developing models and tools that allow for informed and cost-effective mitigation methods in a bid to reduce the effects of anthropogenic noise from marine traffic