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In the darkness of the underwater world, marine species use sound to sense their environment. But the naturally occurring songs, clicks and whistles that they rely on to search for food, care for their young, socialize and mate, are being drowned out by the rising human-made racket.
You can help turn down the volume on underwater noise pollution by telling Canada to finally release its long-waited Ocean Noise Strategy. Wildlife need a real plan and meaningful action — not more noise.
WHY ARE WE CONCERNED?
Travelling five times faster in water than air, sound is the most effective means for marine life to sense their surroundings and communicate across the ocean’s vast expanse. From the acoustic vibrations of American lobster and small grunts of Atlantic cod to the high-frequency echolocation clicks of orca and deep vocalizations of enormous blue whales, the ocean sounds like a veritable underwater symphony.
But today, this natural soundtrack is being overwritten by the thunderous rumble of thousands of ships, deafening seismic blasts from seabed oil and gas activities, and the increasing roar of marine construction. This noise pollution settles like a thick layer of smog over the musical notes of marine life, jeopardizing their survival.
HOW IS NOISE
POLLUTION
JEOPARDIZING
WILDLIFE ?
and echolocation
changing behaviour
HOW IS NOISE
POLLUTION
JEOPARDIZING
WILDLIFE ?
communication
and echolocation
Livelihoods
food supply
and changing
behaviour
hearing
WHAT DOES UNDERWATER
NOISE POLLUTION SOUND LIKE?
Explore how noise from human activity is impacting species from coast to coast to coast. Listen to the whale vocalizations, and then turn up the dial on noise pollution at the same time. Can you still hear them?
Click a map pin and drag the volume dial to turn down the noise pollution.
Sounds are generalized depictions of underwater noise and the volume depends on distance from the sound source and other soundscape variables.
Arctic Ocean
BAFFIN BAY
Narwhal stress levels have increased 200 per cent in recent years.
In just seven years, underwater noise in the Arctic Ocean has doubled because of shipping traffic. Narwhal have been singled out as the marine mammal most vulnerable to increased shipping in the region, given the high overlap between their preferred habitats and their sensitivity to underwater noise.
Arctic Ocean
Beaufort Sea
In just seven years, underwater noise has doubled in some areas of the Arctic.
One of the world’s quietest oceans is rapidly being polluted by noise as melting sea ice expands opportunities for shipping and development. As sea ice disappears, so does this physical barrier that once dampened sounds from above the surface. Increasing noise levels threaten ice whales, seals and walrus.
Pacific Ocean
Salish Sea
Noise threatens this critically endangered population of only 75 orcas.
Traffic in the Port of Vancouver is expected to reach more than 4,000 vessels per year while underwater noise pollution has been shown to mask echolocation and communication between the 75 remaining members of the critically endangered southern resident killer whale population.
Pacific Ocean
Great Bear Sea / northern
coast of B.C.
B.C.’s north coast is bracing for a massive increase in shipping from new LNG terminals.
Humpbacks develop and practice their elaborate songs in the Great Bear Sea before migrating. But these still-quiet waters are bracing for a massive increase in shipping from the building of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals. This could have detrimental impacts on orcas, humpback, and fin whales.
Atlantic Ocean
Gulf of the St. Lawrence
There are fewer than 400 North Atlantic right whales left and ship strikes
are a significant source of mortality.
To save the endangered North Atlantic right whale and other regional at-risk species, we must minimize as many stressors as possible. That includes limiting noise pollution from shipping, which can contribute to fatal ship strikes, and from offshore oil and gas exploration, which includes seismic air guns louder than a jet takeoff.
Atlantic Ocean
Saguenay, St. Lawrence
Sound is essential to the mother-calf relationship of the endangered St. Lawrence belugas.
The beluga is often called the “canary of the sea” for its wide range of chirps, clicks, whistles and squeals. These vocalizations help beluga find their way, feed, reproduce, and socialize in the bustling St. Lawrence estuary and Saguenay River. Mothers and calves are especially vulnerable to increased shipping noise as they can become separated, further endangering the young whales.
WHY DOES CANADA
NEED TO ACT NOW?
Bordering three oceans, Canada has a global responsibility to be a bolder leader on underwater noise pollution and initially promised to release a first draft of an Ocean Noise Strategy in summer 2021, and then by the end of 2022. But the federal government still remains silent even as the volume in our oceans keeps rising and several whale populations swim towards extinction.
With increasing ship traffic worldwide more than doubling underwater noise every decade, Canada needs to take concrete action today to manage the underwater noise pollution of tomorrow. Time is running out. We can’t let another year go by without a strong plan to turn down the volume.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT
HOW CAN CANADA
GET IT RIGHT?
WE NEED A REAL PLAN NOW, NOT MORE NOISE.
Canada’s Ocean Noise Strategy is way behind schedule. Not only must Canada release a plan to manage underwater noise pollution as soon as possible, but to hit the right note this plan must deliver the meaningful, measurable and urgent action needed to keep whales safe and sound. This should include:
Noise limits
Canada needs to set noise limits for activities that we know have a negative effect on soundscapes, such as shipping and oil and gas exploration. These should be informed by biological limits (the volume different species are able to withstand without adverse impacts) and by local and Indigenous knowledge.
Area-based noise targets
While we must limit noise pollution everywhere, different areas need different approaches. Already excessively loud regions need noise reduction targets while rapidly developing areas, like the Arctic, need noise limits to preserve the natural soundscape before it's too late. Canada should prioritize safeguarding important habitats for at-risk marine mammals.
Quieter technologies
Industry has a critical role to play in spurring the development and timely adoption of quieter technologies and ship designs, and we can help nudge them along with a stronger Ocean Noise Strategy. In the meantime, Canada should encourage measures that can reduce underwater noise today, such as slowing vessels down in critical habitat.
Monitoring and enforcement
There must be a plan for the ongoing monitoring of noise levels, and regulations to enforce limits and reduction targets. Marine protection legislation very rarely includes shipping restrictions and never includes noise restrictions. Without these teeth, it’s unlikely Canada’s Ocean Noise Strategy will help eliminate noise pollution in important habitats .
WWF-Canada will continue to advocate for a strong Ocean Noise Strategy to ensure Canada creates the quiet spaces that allow the ocean’s natural soundtrack to return.
