Underwater Noise Pollution
The underwater noise produced from global commercial shipping poses a significant threat to the entire ocean ecosystem, including to aquatic plants, plankton, invertebrates, fish, and marine mammals. To address this issue, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) first developed voluntary underwater noise reduction guidelines in 2014. Unfortunately, due to the guidelines being voluntary, large-scale uptake from industry was minimal. In 2023, the IMO released a revised set of guidelines which includes a three year Experience-Building Phase and Action Plan to raise industry awareness, share best practices, and develop methods for underwater noise reduction.
Noise reduction technology implemented at the ship design and construction phase and speed reduction measures are essential in advancing international efforts to reduce underwater shipping noise. At the IMO, EIA proactively engages with member-states to promote adoption of mandatory global regulations for reducing underwater noise. This is especially critical within Arctic waters, where the marine soundscape is currently less ensonified by continuous vessel noise, compared to other more industrialized areas of ocean.