Noise from oil exploration, cruise ships, and even whale-watchers is creating an unrelenting underwater din, disrupting the lives of whales that rely on sound to navigate, feed, and communicate.
Miranda Bryant reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Dr. Heike Vester’s recordings reveal how seismic airguns, boat engines and other human-made noises are blinding whales’ ability to “see” underwater through sound, forcing them to abandon feeding.
- Noise pollution is killing vital zooplankton and potentially contributing to mass whale strandings, while blue whales, despite increasing in number, remain threatened by these hazards.
- Simple measures like reducing vessel activity, limiting boat proximity to whales and developing quieter ships could dramatically improve their environment.
Key quote:
“As soon as there’s boat noise, they can’t feed any more. Whale-watchers should be aware of that.”
— Dr. Heike Vester, founder of Ocean Sounds
Why this matters:
Noise pollution doesn’t just drown out whale songs; it starves them and pushes entire ecosystems into chaos. The ocean, once a realm of silence, is now a cacophony of seismic airguns and all manner of motorized vessels. Until we turn down the volume, the ocean’s giants will keep fighting a battle they can’t win alone. Read more: The muddy waters of US ocean protection.
