I came across another great site the other day that I really want to mention as I received an update from them in my inbox this morning.  Surfing the Internet can sometimes be such a joy, especially when you discover more organizations and people working hard to make the ocean a more hospitable place  for our vulnerable marine species to live.

This organization is Ocean Conservation Research or OCR.  What makes OCR different is their unique mission which, “is focused on understanding the scope of, and exploring solutions to the growing problem of human generated noise pollution and its impact on marine animals.”

Although the ocean can naturally be a noise place due to volcanic eruptions, violent ocean storms, polar ice shifting and earthquakes, it has also unnaturally become a much louder environment thanks to human interference.  Our growing industrial travel, commercial fishing, military and oil industries are increasingly producing intrusive noise pollution which marine species are having to adapt too.  This adaptation can possibly be threatening the well-being of all marine life as most species use sound to communicate, find food and navigate our vast oceans.

It was once thought that the enormity of our oceans could not be affected by our human dependency on the ocean and the exponential increase of noise as a result, but according to OCR, “we are seeing dramatic evidence that our ocean antics are compromising habitat, depleting life, poisoning the water – and deafening sea life with our “acoustic smog.”

There is obviously a need for more research and thus new solutions to what will be an increasing problem over time.  Unfortunately there is a shortage in conservation marine biologists and environmental scientists that are also acousticians.  It is apparent that this is a very new science that needs to be made specific to the ocean requiring many more brilliant minds and determined hearts.

In their newsletter today OCR announced that, “The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries department has launched a third in a series of four fisheries research vessels designed around new, quiet technologies.” They went on to say that the boat (Piscies) “…is so advanced and quiet that it is likely fish and other marine animals will never know it’s there.  And that’s the whole idea.”

Ocean Conservation Research has a fantastic website full of information on the subject of marine biology acoustics including research papers and various letters to support its cause.  Another great feature of their website is their sounds page which allows visitors to hear how our fish and mammals communicate while sharing our negative human contribution to noise pollution as well.

I personally think that marine noise pollution is an incredibly valid and important issue that needs to be addressed in our enormous effort to bring our oceans back to life again.  I plan on keeping up with this organization to see what advances come of this new and vital marine science.