The workshop was a follow-up on a first workshop held in Brussels in June 2019 that was aimed at promoting a cross-disciplinary integration of different sectors of the scientific research community focusing on the issue of underwater noise in the marine environment. The topic of underwater noise of from anthropogenic sources is a relatively young science in which, in spite of the increasing number of studies and projects, much still needs to be understood. Currently research focuses for a large part on marine mammals, while research on other species, on wider scale population effects and on the cumulative effects of stressors is still underdeveloped.
In the workshop in Rome the discussions included the state of play and research gaps and needs on the the impact of noise on the marine environment, technology need to improve the understanding of the effects and how to reduce or mitigate the impacts of underwater noise of from anthropogenic sources and the implementation of regulatory framework in Europe. Specifically, the experts around the table worked on identifying the priorities which can form the basis of a structuring or enabling action by JPI Oceans. As a conclusion they stressed the need of standardized data collection and the reduction of stress by reducing insertion of anthropogenic noise and energy into the marine soundscape by improving mitigation strategies and a consensus on mitigation measures. On mitigation the role of the Marine Directive's Descriptor 11 (Introduction of energy - including underwater noise - does not adversely affect the ecosystem) was highlighted as important.