HELP US TURN DOWN THE VOLUME OF

UNDERWATER

NOISE

DIVE IN

In the darkness of the underwater world, whales and other 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 a rising human-made racket.

Thank you for raising your voices for quiet oceans.

After three years of delays and more than 11,000 emails from supporters like you, Fisheries and Oceans Canada released the long-awaited draft of their Ocean Noise Strategy for public consultation in August 2024. And in October, WWF-Canada submitted our recommendations for how Canada can strengthen the final strategy so it  meaningfully protects species being harmed by underwater noise pollution.

But the timeline from draft to implementation won't happen fast enough to protect the marine species that are in danger right now. WWF-Canada will continue to urge the federal government to take immediate action to turn down the volume and protect wildlife.

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 ?

HOW IS NOISE
POLLUTION
JEOPARDIZING
WILDLIFE ?

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.
BACK TO MAP

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.

NARWHAL
Volume

NARWHAL

VOLUME

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ICE-breaking
Volume

SHIP TRAFFIC

VOLUME

PLAY TO HEAR WHAT OCEAN SOUNDS LIKE WITH NOISE POLLUTION

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.

bowhead whale
Volume

BOWHEAD WHALE

VOLUME

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Ship traffic
Volume

ICE-BREAKING SHIP

VOLUME

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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.

Southern resident killer whale/orca
Volume

SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALE/ORCA

VOLUME

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Small/large vessel, shipping
Volume

SMALL/LARGE VESSEL SHIPPING

VOLUME

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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.

Humpback Whale
Volume

HUMPBACK WHALE

VOLUME

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shipping
Volume

SHIPPING

VOLUME

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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.

North Atlantic right whale
Volume

NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE

VOLUME

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seismic blast
Volume

SEISMIC BLAST

VOLUME

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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.

Beluga
Volume

BELUGA

VOLUME

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shipping
Volume

SHIPPING

VOLUME

PLAY TO HEAR WHAT OCEAN SOUNDS LIKE WITH NOISE POLLUTION

HOW CAN CANADA
GET IT RIGHT?

WE NEED A REAL PLAN, NOT MORE NOISE.

With several whale populations swimming toward extinction and 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.

The draft Ocean Noise strategy provides a much-needed roadmap to begin filling knowledge gaps, standardizing research and monitoring methods, promoting innovative technologies, and establishing a clear and transparent federal management framework. But the draft is still silent on how and when underwater noise will be turned down. To hit the right note, Canada’s final Ocean Noise Strategy must deliver the meaningful, measurable and urgent action needed to keep whales and other marine life safe and sound. This should include:

1

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.

2

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.

3

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.

4

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 advocating for a strong Ocean Noise Strategy as well as immediate actions to mitigate the escalating impacts of underwater noise pollution in the meantime.