Short Science Summary: Underwater Noise

Dolphin

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.

The table below contains the literature relevant to this summary document and will continue to be updated as new literature is added to Tethys.

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Final Environmental Impact Statement National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Report Marine Energy, OTEC Chemicals, Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Waterborne Noise Due to Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plants Janota, C., Thompson, D. Journal Article OTEC, Marine Energy Noise
Potential Impacts from OTEC-Generated Underwater Sounds Rucker, J., Friedl, W. Conference Paper Marine Energy, OTEC Noise
Sound Detection Mechanisms and Capabilities of Teleost Fishes Popper, A., Fay, R., Platt, C., Sand, O. Book Chapter Marine Energy EMF, Noise Fish
The potential impact of 1-8 kHz active sonar on stocks of juvenile fish during sonar exercises Kvadsheim, P., Sevaldsen, E. Report Marine Energy Noise Fish
Underwater Noise Study Supporting Scottish Executive Strategic Environmental Assessment for Marine Renewables Richards, S., Harland, E., Jones, S. Report Marine Energy Noise
Underwater Ambient Noise Dahl, P., Miller, J., Cato, D., Andrew, R. Journal Article Marine Energy Noise
Marine renewable energy and cetaceans Dolman, S., Simmonds, M., Green, M. Report Marine Energy Noise Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Lethal and Physical Injury of Marine Mammals and Requirements for Passive Acoustic Monitoring Parvin, S., Nedwell, J., Harland, E. Report Marine Energy Noise Pinnipeds, Marine Mammals
Underwater Noise Assessment in the Messina Strait - Italy Nauta-rcs, CIBRA Report Ocean Current, Marine Energy Noise
A Validation of the dBht as a Measure of the Behavioural and Auditory Effects of Underwater Noise Nedwell, J., Turnpenny, A., Lovell, J., Parvin, S., Workman, R., Sprinks, J., Howell, D. Report Marine Energy Noise
The Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammals Boyd, I., Brownell, B., Cato, D., Clark, C., Costa, D., Evans, P., Gedamke, J., Gentry, R., Gisiner, R., Gordon, J., Jepson, P., Miller, P., Rendell, L., Tasker, M., Tyack, P., Vos, E., Whitehead, H., Wartzok, D., Zimmer, W. Report Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Ocean Noise: Turn it down - A report on ocean noise pollution McKenna, C., International Fund for Animal Welfare Report Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Fish, Marine Mammals
Measurement and Assessment of Background Underwater Noise and its Comparison with Noise from Pin Pile Drilling Operations During Installation of the SeaGen Tidal Turbine Device, Strangford Lough Nedwell, J., Brooker, A. Report Tidal, Marine Energy Noise Marine Mammals, Fish
The Effects of Human-Generated Sound on Fish Popper, A., Hastings, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Noise Fish
The Effects Of Anthropogenic Sources Of Sound On Fishes Popper, A., Hastings, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Fish
Overview Of The Impacts Of Anthropogenic Underwater Sound In The Marine Environment Götz, T., Hastie, G., Hatch, L., Raustein, O., Southall, B., Tasker, M., Thomsen, F., Campbell, J., Fredheim, B. Report Marine Energy Noise Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Addressing the Effects of Human-Generated Sound on Marine Life: An Integrated Research Plan for US Federal Agencies Southall, B., Berkson J., Bowen, D., Brake, R., Eckman, J., Field, J., Gisiner, R., Gregerson, S., Lang, W., Lewandoski, J., Wilson, J., Winokur, R. Report Marine Energy Noise Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Technical Guidance for Assessment and Mitigation of the Hydroacoustic Effects of Pile Driving on Fish Oestman, R., Buehler, D., Reyff, J., Rodkin, R. Report Marine Energy Noise Fish
Wave Energy and Underwater Noise: State of Art and Uncertainties Patricio, S., Moura, A., Simas, T. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wave Noise
Best Practices in Management, Assessment and Control of Underwater Noise Pollution André, M., Morell, M., Mas, A., Solé, M., Van der Schaar, M., Houégnigan, L., Zaugg, S., Castell, D., Baquerizo, C., Roch, L. Report Marine Energy, Wind Energy Noise Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Listening In Riddoch, L. Magazine Article Tidal, Marine Energy Noise Seabirds, Pinnipeds, Marine Mammals, Birds
Underwater Noise Modelling of Wave Energy Devices Patricio, S., Soares, S., Sarmento, A. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wave Noise
Status and Applications of Acoustic Mitigation and Monitoring Systems for Marine Mammals Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Workshop Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Marine Mammals
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of Offshore Wind and Marine Renewable Energy in Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Passerines, Seabirds, Waterfowl, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Reptiles, Human Dimensions, Climate Change, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement, Visual Impacts
Assessment of Underwater Noise Generated by Wave Energy Devices Austin, M., Chorney, N., Ferguson, J., Leary, D., O'Neill, C., Sneddon, H. Report Wave, Marine Energy Noise
Rethinking sound detection by fishes Popper, A., Fay, R. Journal Article Marine Energy Noise Fish
Literature Review on the Potential Effects of Electromagnetic Fields and Subsea Noise from Marine Renewable Energy Developments on Atlantic Salmon, Sea Trout and European Eel Gill, A., Bartlett, M. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave EMF, Noise Fish, Pelagic Fish
Underwater Ambient Noise at a Proposed Tidal Energy Site in Puget Sound Bassett, C. Thesis Tidal, Marine Energy Noise
The Costs of Chronic Noise Exposure for Terrestrial Organisms Barber, J., Crooks, K., Fristrup, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Marine Energy Noise
Wave Energy and Underwater Noise: Assessment and Monitoring Aspects Patricio, S., Soares, C. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wave Noise
The emergence of a new marine renewable energy industry – what are the implications for fisheries? Bell, M., Side, J., Kerr, S., Johnson, K., Baston, S., Bullen, C. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries
The Marine Soundscape and the Effects of Noise on Aquatic Mammals Erbe, C. Journal Article Marine Energy Noise Marine Mammals
Marine Megavertebrates and Fishery Resources in the Nantucket Sound – Muskeget Channel Area: Assessing Impacts of Marine Renewable Energy Installations on Marine Megavertebrates - Recommendations for the Proposed Muskeget Channel Tidal Energy Project Leeney, R., Nichols, O., Sette, L., LaFond, S., Hughes, P. Report Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Seabirds, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Sea Turtles
Characteristics of Underwater Ambient Noise at a Proposed Tidal Energy Site in Puget Sound Bassett, C., Thomson, J., Polagye, B. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Tidal Noise
Airborne and Underwater Noise Assessment at the Pico OWC Wave Power Plant de Moura, A., Carvalho, M., Patricio, S., Nunes, N., Soares, C. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wave Noise
Field Calibration a Tool for Acoustic Noise Prediction: The CALCOM'10 Data Set Felisberto, P., Jesus, S., Martins, N. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wave Noise
Is There a Conflict Between Cetacean Conservation and Marine Renewable-Energy Developments? Brown, V., Simmonds, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Noise Measurements Of A Prototype Tidal Energy Turbine Deveau, D., Stein, P., Rotker, N., Scribner, H., Edson, P. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Noise
Making Marine Renewable Energy Mainstream Murray, M. Presentation Marine Energy, Wave Noise Birds, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
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