You have come to a conclusion already?
I suggest you segregate the issue between anthropogenic ship/boat noise
and research/military low-frequency sound events. The two issues are
very different. The previous issue essentially propagates a pervasive
'white noise' into the ocean. Although it seems to be increasing, the
direct effects on marine mammals is not clear. Prop noise can be
mitigated with high-tech multi-blade props. It also appears that
direct-drive gas turbine engines on larger ships reduces noise and
vibrations over the conventional diesel-electrics. Be these are
expensive and not likely to find their way into bulk cargo shipping
(such as tankers and ore carriers) or foreign fleets.
The latter issue is obviously catastrophic for certain types of whales.
The only solution I see for this is to not do it. There are other ways
to find foreign submarines without blowing away all the beaked whales
in the ocean.
Cheers,
Pieter Folkens
> I am currently doing a research project on "The effects of human
> generated
> sounds on marine mammals", for my first year biology course at the
> University
> of Victoria. I have concluded that sounds caused by shipping traffic
> and
> various oceanology projects involving the use of low-frequency sounds
> can have
> some negative effects on the behavior and health of whales. And I am
> wondering if there are any methods to solve this problem?
>
> Thank you.
> Chi-On Leung
>
>
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