Co-organised by JPI Oceans, LAB-UPC, IOC-UNESCO, and the OCEANOISE Conference Series, the “Quiet, please! Bridging Science and Policy on Underwater Noise” event provided an interactive platform for scientists, policymakers, and industry professionals to explore recent advancements and strategies for mitigating underwater noise. The event was a follow-up to the satellite event organised during the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona.
With close to 300 participants, the event underscored the urgency of addressing underwater noise as we increasingly learn about its substantial impacts on marine life and habitats. A panel moderated by Michel André, Director of LAB at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), featured renowned experts including Peter Sigray, Leila Hatch, Prof. Christine Erbe, Tomonari Akamatsu, and Ana Širović (find their affiliations and bios below), representing extensive experience that covered underwater acoustics, marine bioacoustics, and policymaking.
LAB-UPC is involved in this field of research through the DIAPHONIA project—"Assess and Predict tHe impact Of underwater NoIse on mArine species"— funded by JPI Oceans through the Underwater Noise Joint Action. Funded in 2022 under the joint leadership of Italy and Germany, DIAPHONIA is one of five projects investigating the impacts of underwater noise on marine biodiversity, and exploring science-based solutions to mitigate these impacts.
The event dove into the latest advancements in the field and on translating scientific findings into policy-driven solutions. Discussion topics included:
- Defining Underwater Noise as a Pollutant: Recognising anthropogenic noise as an environmental pollutant and advocating for its regulation.
- Long-term Marine Acoustic Monitoring: Addressing the need for consistent acoustic monitoring to better understand how marine life is affected by human-induced noise.
- Bridging Science and Policy: Emphasising the importance of converting scientific research into policy frameworks to enable effective noise mitigation measures.
- Global Framework and Regional Adaptation: Exploring strategies for balancing human activity with environmental sustainability on both regional and international levels.
The panel’s discussions highlighted the pressing need for cross-sector collaboration to protect marine environments. The LAB-UPC’s role in the DIAPHONIA project exemplifies the type of collaborative research essential for assessing and mitigating underwater noise pollution.
As scientific understanding of underwater noise pollution continues to grow, events like this one are essential in translating this knowledge into policies that protect marine life. The LAB-UPC and JPI Oceans are at the forefront of this mission, working to bridge the gap between research and real-world applications.
For those unable to attend, a recording is available on the JPI Oceans YouTube channel, providing an important resource for continued learning and engagement on the topic.
Peter Sigray, Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), Sweden
Peter is a prominent figure in underwater acoustics and oceanographic instrumentation. He has worked extensively on measuring and assessing underwater noise pollution and its impact on marine ecosystems, contributing to both scientific knowledge and the development of environmental monitoring technologies. Sigray has served on various international committees, including projects focused on European marine environmental standards. His research spans both academic and applied fields, working with industry partners and regulatory bodies to improve underwater noise measurement standards.
Leila Hatch, NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, USA
Leila leads efforts at NOAA to integrate underwater noise science into marine policy and conservation efforts. Her work focuses on understanding how anthropogenic noise affects marine species, particularly cetaceans, and she has played a key role in NOAA’s Ocean Noise Strategy, which aims to protect marine environments from the growing threat of underwater noise pollution. Hatch has worked on developing comprehensive noise exposure guidelines and strategies for the National Marine Fisheries Service and has contributed to public awareness campaigns that highlight the importance of managing human-induced noise in the ocean.
Prof. Christine Erbe, Curtin University, Australia
Christine is the Director of the Centre for Marine Science & Technology (CMST) at Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, and specialises in underwater acoustics and noise effects on marine life. She has extensive experience across industry, government, and academia, and has served in leadership roles within professional committees, such as the ISO working group for standardising underwater noise measurements. We are delighted to discuss with her on 18 October 2024!
Tomonari Akamatsu, National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Japan
Tomonari specialises in bioacoustics, particularly in passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) of marine mammals and their environments. His work has focused on the use of acoustic technology to monitor the behaviour and movements of cetaceans, including the development of advanced listening systems to track dolphin and whale populations. Previously, Akamatsu has held roles at the National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Japan, where he researched acoustic methods for studying aquatic organisms. His contributions have greatly advanced the understanding of how marine species use sound, helping to establish monitoring protocols for threatened species.
Ana Širović, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway
Ana is an expert in marine bioacoustics with a focus on soundscape ecology and the acoustic behaviour of marine mammals, particularly baleen whales. She leads the Marine Bioacoustics and Ecology Lab at NTNU, where her research explores the impacts of anthropogenic noise on marine ecosystems and how marine mammals communicate over large ocean basins. Širović has a long history of academic and research contributions, having previously worked at Texas A&M University and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Her work includes field studies in polar regions and extensive acoustic monitoring across various ocean environments.
Michel André, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain (panel moderator)
Michel is the Director of the Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics (LAB) at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), BarcelonaTech in Spain. His research is dedicated to studying ocean noise pollution and its effects on marine life, with a focus on providing technological solutions to mitigate these impacts. The LAB, under Michel's leadership, has deployed acoustic sensors around the world, incorporating them into a comprehensive platform called "Listen to the Deep Ocean Environment" (http://listentothedeep.com). His work is highly interdisciplinary, incorporating bioacoustics, artificial intelligence, and international collaboration to address the increasing noise pollution in marine habitats. Michel's research and leadership have made the LAB a key player in bioacoustic monitoring, helping develop control mechanisms and deepening understanding of the challenges facing the ocean.