The vast oceans were once filled with the songs of whales and clicks of dolphins. Today, a constant hum of human machines is drowning them out.
Ocean noise pollution is on the rise, posing a grave danger to marine ecosystems.
Experts have highlighted how and why our seas have become so noisy and why it’s bad news for all.
WHY IS THE OCEAN MORE NOISY?
Commercial shipping tops the list. With over 250,000 vessels sailing the seas, engines and propellers create persistent noise that travels far underwater.
Seismic air guns, used in oil and gas exploration, fire powerful blasts every few seconds.
Naval sonar for military use, pile-driving for ports and wind farms, and even fishing boats contribute significantly.
Furthermore, the booming global trade has led to more ships sailing faster and bigger. Since the 1960s, underwater noise has doubled every decade in several regions.
In the Indian Ocean, dense shipping traffic has amplified this problem, with rising levels recorded off India’s western coast due to increased maritime activity.
WHY IS NOISE BAD FOR MARINE LIFE?
Sea animals rely heavily on sound in the dark underwater world.
Whales use low-frequency songs to communicate over hundreds of kilometres. Dolphins echolocate to hunt.
When human noise masks these sounds, animals struggle to find mates, food or avoid danger.
It causes stress, temporary or permanent hearing loss, disrupted migration and feeding. Severe cases lead to panic dives, decompression sickness or beach strandings.
India’s extensive 7,500-km coastline and position in the busy Indian Ocean make it vulnerable.
Major shipping lanes pass through here, and offshore oil searches use noisy surveys. Noise has been linked to whale strandings along Indian shores, including blue whales off Alibag and pilot whales near Tuticorin.
This threatens biodiversity, including protected species like dugongs and Olive Ridley turtles, and impacts the fishing industry that supports millions.
HOW CAN WE REDUCE NOISE POLLUTION?
Amid the worrying trend, the good news is that certain changes can help.
Slowing ship speeds cuts noise by a lot while saving fuel.
New propeller designs and hull coatings quiet ships.
Using vibration-based methods instead of air guns for exploration is quieter.
Creating marine quiet zones and better regulations can protect sensitive areas. India can lead by adopting green shipping practices.
The ocean’s natural symphony is fading fast. But with collective effort from governments, shipping firms and citizens, we can turn down the volume and safeguard our blue planet’s vital inhabitants.
