Scientific American
A Few Fixes Could Cut Noise Pollution That Hurts Ocean Animals
Redesigning ship propellors and installing acoustic “curtains” could lower the volume on anthropogenic noise that disrupts ocean life
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Shipping noise and other sounds from human activity in oceans harm numerous marine species, according to a broad new assessment of existing research. The findings, published this month in
Science, also include viable solutions—some already in use—that could buy time to address tougher problems such as ocean acidification and potentially save the lives of imperiled species such as southern resident killer whales, Maui dolphins and Atlantic cod.