Marine researchers find trawling noise risk to protected mammals phys.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from phys.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Noise of Bottom Trawling Disturbs Marine Mammals, NUIG Study Finds
14th December 2020
A Sperm Whale pod; Irish researchers have found the noise from deep-water trawling can upset whales
Credit: Wikimedia
Whales are known to be disturbed by the noise of ships and oil and gas drilling, but now a new study says that bottom trawling can also upset marine mammals.
As the Irish Independent reports today, scientists at NUI Galway’s (NUIG) Ryan Institute have found that the sound generated by trawling for fish around underwater canyons is amplified and may affect marine mammals’ ability to hunt and navigate.
The team used hydrophones to record the impact on the marine environment of trawlers in two surveys in the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea.