Short Science Summary 2020: Underwater Noise

Potential Environmental Effects on Animals from Marine Renewable Energy: Underwater Noise

Animals use sound in the marine environment like humans and animals use light (sight) on land. Underwater sound allows animals to communicate, navigate, interact, forage, and avoid predation. The extent to which marine animals detect and produce sound varies by species and may range across frequencies and sound levels. Marine animals are already subject to sources of anthropogenic noise under water; the addition of sound from marine renewable energy (MRE) devices could induce stress, behavioral changes (such as avoidance), a range of physical injuries, and a temporary or permanent reduction in hearing ability that can mask other sounds. The propagation of sound from MRE devices dissipates with distance from the device, depending on specific ocean conditions and the level of sound generated by each device. Construction activities at sea can create loud underwater noise, while noise from operational MRE devices is much quieter.

This Short Science Summary was developed based on the OES-Environmental 2020 State of the Science Report: Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development Around the World, specifically Chapter 4: Risk to Marine Animals from Underwater Noise Generated by Marine Renewable Energy Devices.