Sounding the alarm: The federal draft Ocean Noise Strategy falls short

A long-awaited federal strategy to address ocean noise has finally arrived. But it does not measure up to the urgent needs of our marine ecosystems or the promises made to deliver a strategy.¹

Underwater noise is a growing conservation concern. Sound is essential for survival of many marine species, since vision is hindered where light doesn’t penetrate far below the surface. Sound on the other hand, travels much more efficiently and nearly 4.5 times faster in water than in air. As a result, marine species rely on sound for hunting, navigating, communicating, and other vital functions. 

For killer whales, belugas, and other cetaceans, sound is as crucial as vision is to humans. 

The stakes could not be higher. If we continue to delay action, ocean noise will only intensify, pushing vulnerable species like the Southern Resident killer whales closer to extinction. 

Unfortunately, underwater noise from human activities also travels far and wide, severely impacting some at-risk marine species. It disrupts communication, reduces the distance over which groups can detect one another, masks echolocation needed for detecting prey, and may drive species  away from key feeding grounds. In extreme cases, it can cause temporary or permanent hearing damage, and even lead to death.

The endangered Southern Resident killer whale population continues to encounter significant barriers to recovery, and underwater noise is one of the three major culprits, in addition to high concentrations of industrial pollutants, and a reduction in both the quality and availability of their Chinook salmon prey. A recent update to the Population Viability Analysis for Southern Resident killer whales highlights that the chances of recovery are lower than previously estimated, necessitating targeted and immediate conservation measures, including measures that address ocean noise.

In addition, new research by Jennifer Tennessen and colleagues highlights how vessel noise decreases killer whale foraging efficiency, with particularly negative impacts on females. It emphasizes the need for immediate efforts to reduce human-made ocean noise to meet conservation goals for species that rely heavily on sound.

The federal government promised to deliver a strategy and an action plan by the summer of 2021. The draft Ocean Noise Strategy is out, three years past the deadline, and it disappoints. 

A strategy that has taken this long to develop should be considerably stronger. The vast majority of the recommendations focus on further research, developing methodologies to measure noise, monitoring, management objectives, and strengthening coordination. While these efforts are valid, they fall significantly short of addressing the urgent needs we face today. 

We already understand how and why ocean noise impacts ecosystems, and we recognize its immediate threat to at-risk species. Yet, there is a glaring lack in the recently released strategy of concrete, actionable recommendations designed to mitigate underwater noise immediately. 

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking as shipping traffic has continued to grow annually. In BC, during this period, the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion was completed and became operational, leading to a surge in oil tanker traffic through the Salish Sea, from 5 to approximately 34 transits per month. This increase marks a sevenfold rise in tanker traffic in the Salish Sea. Another large-scale project, the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 expansion in Delta, BC, also presents considerable concerns regarding more shipping and underwater noise.

In the Arctic Ocean, underwater noise doubled over a seven-year period (2013-2019) due to shipping traffic, according to a 2021 Arctic Council report.

And the busy St. Lawrence Estuary, a key commercial hub, is home to four at-risk cetacean species that are impacted by noise: year-round resident beluga whales, blue whales, fin whales, and North Atlantic right whales. Annually, over 7,000 merchant vessels pass through the estuary, alongside thousands of commercial and recreational small boats from May to October. Additionally, more than 40,000 ferry crossings occur each year at the Saguenay fjord’s mouth, leading to frequent close encounters with belugas traveling to or from Baie Sainte Marguerite (a beluga summering area).

For killer whales, belugas, and other cetaceans, sound is as crucial as vision is to humans. 

It is thus abundantly clear that tangible, effective recommendations that prioritize immediate solutions over additional delays are sorely needed. Some of these key recommendations include:

1. Establishing regional noise-reduction targets, 
2. Setting noise reduction limits for marine projects known to negatively impact soundscapes, based on biological thresholds,
3. Implementing additional mandatory noise-reduction measures such as speed restrictions, instead of relying on voluntary measures (as suggested in the draft noise strategy’s recommendation to promote participation in voluntary efforts),
4. Designating additional avoidance zones, 
5. Incentivizing the use of quiet ship technologies, and
6. Moving beyond merely “enhancing compliance with mandatory ocean noise measures” (recommendation #15), to ensure regulated and enforceable actions. 

The stakes could not be higher. If we continue to delay action, ocean noise will only intensify, pushing vulnerable species like the Southern Resident killer whales closer to extinction. 

Canada has the tools and the knowledge to act now. What we need is the political will to implement immediate, enforceable solutions that reduce ocean noise before it is too late. The time for further delays and half-measures is over—our marine species can’t afford to wait.

1.  Read the federal draft Ocean Noise Strategy.

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