Are Humans Drowning Out the Sounds of the Seas?
Research also shows that climate change and other human pressures have also led to the deterioration of habitats, such as coral reefs, seagrass meadows and seagrass beds, silencing characteristic sounds that guide fish larvae and other animals to find their habitats.
The whoops and growls of healthy coral reefs—teeming with various fish and other organisms—are similar to the sound of food frying.
Noise pollution isn’t restricted to the oceans. The latest edition of the UNEP’s Frontiers report, Noise, Blazes and Mismatches: Emerging Issues of Environmental Concern, shows it is a growing hazard to public health and wildlife in cities.
Unwanted, prolonged and high-level sounds from cars and trains have been known to interfere with the communications of birds, insects, and amphibians.
Last year marked the launch of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Running through 2030, the Decade is the ideal opportunity for countries to devote more resources to understanding the impacts of marine noise pollution, says Carvalho.
*SOURCE: UNEP. Go to ORIGINAL. 2022 Human Wrongs Watch
