Photo credit: Jean-Christophe André
by Arline L. Bronzaft, Ph.D., Board of Directors, GrowNYC, Co-founder, The Quiet Coalition, and Honorary Chair, Quiet American Skies
I’ve noticed more news articles that speak to the harmful effects that human-made noises have on other species. This article by K. R. Callaway notes that cruise ship noise is harming arctic wildlife. Callaway begins by noting how tourists love to visit the Arctic. She goes on to say that the ships carrying passengers to the Arctic also bring along another “invisible” passenger, noise.
Callaway, while alerting us to the dangers of noise in our oceans, also wants us to learn more about what can be done to protect the Arctic’s “pristine, icy wilderness.” Thus, she includes a podcast that discusses the potential harm of ship noise, which allows listeners to hear how scientists and conservations are attempting to deal with the problem.
Ship noise may actually be getting worse, she writes. Noise is intruding on the animals that live in the ocean and depend on their hearing to seek food, communicate and protect themselves and their young from predators. We learn there is a new study has been looking at solutions to the noise problem by identifying the specific sources of the loud sounds, such as propellers.
Some efforts are being taken to minimize the danger of noise, but greater effort still has to be made by governmental agencies. Callaway suggests that tourists should also become involved and learn more about the harm of their “pleasure tours.” They could then advocate for quieter oceans. Readers should also get involved in protecting the species who live in our oceans and share our earth!
