Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, UK.
Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), Stockholm, Sweden.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2020 Mar;152:110951. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110951. Epub 2020 Feb 17.
Underwater noise pollution from impulsive sources (e.g. explosions, seismic airguns, percussive pile driving) can affect marine fauna through mortality, physical injury, auditory damage, physiological stress, acoustic masking, and behavioural responses. Given the potential for large-scale impact on marine ecosystems, some countries are now monitoring impulsive noise activity, coordinated internationally through Regional Seas Conventions. Here, we assess impulsive noise activity in the Northeast Atlantic reported during 2015-2017 to the first international impulsive noise register (INR), established in 2016 under the OSPAR Convention. Seismic airgun surveys were the dominant noise source (67%-83% of annual activity) and declined by 38% during 2015-2017. Reported pile driving activity increased 46%. Explosions and sonar/acoustic deterrent devices both had overall increases in reported activity. Some increases were attributable to more comprehensive reporting in later years. We discuss utilising the INR for risk assessment, target setting, and forward planning, and the implementation of similar systems in other regions.
水下冲击噪声（如爆炸、地震气枪、冲击打桩）会通过致死、物理伤害、听觉损伤、生理压力、声掩蔽和行为反应等方式影响海洋动物区系。鉴于其对海洋生态系统可能产生的大规模影响，一些国家正在通过区域海洋公约进行国际协调，对冲击噪声活动进行监测。在这里，我们评估了 2015-2017 年向 2016 年根据《奥巴委公约》设立的第一个国际冲击噪声登记册（INR）报告的东北大西洋的冲击噪声活动。地震气枪调查是主要的噪声源（占年活动的 67%-83%），在 2015-2017 年间下降了 38%。报告的打桩活动增加了 46%。爆炸声和声纳/声学威慑装置的报告活动均有所增加。一些增加归因于近年来更全面的报告。我们讨论了利用 INR 进行风险评估、目标设定和前瞻性规划，以及在其他地区实施类似系统的问题。
