Running head: MARINE ANTHROPOGENIC NOISE 1

Effects of Anthropogenic Noise in the Marine Environment

Janelle De Jong

Vania Coelho

Marine Biology

Dominican University of California

10 October 2016
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Effects of Anthropogenic Noise in the Marine Environment

The ocean is not a silent abyss, there is sound constantly flowing through it. Sound may

come from fish, marine mammals, or natural geological activity, such as earthquakes. Sound

travels quicker and farther underwater than on land because water molecules are closer together

than air. Sound is also not limited to depth as light is. This allows animals at depth the ability to

make use of sound. Marine animals use echo-location to find members of their species, find prey,

and avoid predation. Marine organisms are not the only ones creating noise in the oceans.

Humans can make direct use of sound properties of water or human activity can have byproducts

that increase sound levels entering the oceans. High levels of sound added to the oceans can have

detrimental effects on marine organisms. Effects of continuous high-level exposure to

underwater anthropogenic sound pollution include disorientation, deafness, or death. To limit the

effects of human generated noise in the oceans it is necessary to decrease the amount of sound

imputed to the marine environment. More research is needed to determine the level of noise that

is safe for organisms.

Human-generated sound in the ocean can be grouped into two categories, sound

that is produced at high levels for a short amount of time, and sound that is produced at a

moderate level for long period of time. Acoustic thermometry or a military sonar are examples of

the high decibel, short-lasting group (Boyd, 2011, p. 175). Acoustic thermometry is a technique

to measure water temperature in relation to climate change. A series of sounds at 195 decibels

are shot into the water and the temperature of the water is able to be determined from the sound

waves that return. An example of direct use of sound by humans is boat and military sonar that

sends out sound and measures the return waves. The incoming waves are able to let the reader

know what is under the water. Militaries, particularly the United States Navy make use of low-
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frequency active sonar to track submarines in the ocean. The active sonar emits a sound at 230

decibels that travels through the deep ocean for hundreds of miles (Hildebrand, 2009, pg. 8). The

initial level of the sound can be fatal to marine organisms and the use of the sound channels by

the military can interfere with marine organism communication. Militaries also may use bombs

or mines that emit extremely high level sounds in a localized area.

In order to keep large fish and marine mammals out of fishing operations there is a device

called a ringer. The ringer produces a high-pitched sound underwater at around 190 decibels. The

aim of using them is to cause discomfort to the animals to make them stay away, but continuous

exposure can cause deafness. To find areas that contain deep sea oil, humans use sonic air-guns

that fire a noise at 250 decibels toward the seafloor and wait for it to return to the ship. This

process is done up to thousands of times in a single area to find the best location for mining.

Looking for the oil is a short high noise level process, but the construction of drilling platforms,

and pumping of oil produces chronic noise. The main source of noise that is chronic at a

moderate level entering the oceans is commercial shipping. All large ships, from oil tankers to

ferries, emit noise in the range of 150-200 decibels from their engines and propellers. Increased

consumerism and world trade increases the amount of ships traveling the seas and releasing

sound into the ocean. It is no secret that human activity increases the amount of sound flowing

through the marine environment, but its effect on marine organisms is less well known.

Most marine organisms depend on sound and their natural functioning can be disrupted

by noise pollution. Chronic noise from humans creates a barrier of white noise that can

disorientate or temporarily deafen marine organisms. Sound in the ocean can also prevent sound

from organisms reaching other ones farther away. This disruption limits marine animal’s ability

to communicate with other members of their species and can lead to decreased rates of mating.
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In captivity, fish exposed to constant noise at moderate levels showed higher levels of stress

hormones (cortisol) (Slabbekoorn et al., 2010, p. 422). This finding leads scientists to believe

that constant exposure to anthropogenic sound can subject marine organisms to stress-related

symptoms including a weakened immune response, and lower reproductive success. Some

species depend on echo-location underwater to allow them to escape from predators or detect

prey, if they are bombarded and distracted by other noises they could be unable to protect

themselves or find food. Animals also may leave areas with high numbers of food to avoid loud

noises. In extreme cases of high levels of noise and close proximity to its source, marine animals

have been known to die. High noise levels can prove fatal because it may cause internal damage

such rupturing eardrums or cause animals to become so disorientated that they panic and either

beach themselves or drown.

It is important to recognize that noise pollution is a problem and start more research to

see its effects on marine animals. It would be best to enact the precautionary principle and create

legislature to lower sound in the ocean. Creating marine protected areas to keep ships and mining

away from major marine breeding grounds or other critical marine habitats like reefs, would

limit the negative effect of noise pollution in the oceans. In 2011 the, International Quiet Ocean

Experiment was founded; its goal is to measure and calculate thresholds of sound in relation to

their effect on marine organisms (Boyd et. al, 2011, p. 174). To keep the sound of ships at their

lowest it is best to perform routine maintenance so that the engine does not create more noise

than it normally does. To reduce the interruption of marine communication passive sonar that

does not emit sound would be better than active sonar. Passive sonar is also good for those

sending it because it cannot be traced back to the source. Long-lasting detrimental effects of

noise on marine organisms are only caused by human acitivites and it is important to their
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survival to know what causes their distress, and how to decrease anthropogenic sound pollution

in the marine environment.

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References

Boyd, I., Frisk, G., Urban, E., Tyack, P., Ausubel, J., Seeyave, S., . . . Shinke, T. (2011). An

International Quiet Ocean Experiment. Oceanog. Oceanography, 24(2), 174-181.

doi:10.5670/oceanog.2011.37

Hildebrand, J. (2009). Anthropogenic and natural sources of ambient noise in the ocean. Marine

Ecology Progress Series, 395, 5-20. doi:10.3354/meps08353

Noise pollution. (n.d.). Retrieved October 08, 2016, from http://baleinesendirect.org/en/whales-

at-risk/threats/noise-pollution/

Slabbekoorn, H., Bouton, N., van Opzeeland, I., Coers, A., ten Cate, C., & Popper, A. N. (2010).

A noisy spring: the impact of globally rising underwater sound levels on fish. Trends In

Ecology & Evolution, 25(7), 419-427. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2010.04.005