"New Study Identifies Acoustic Sanctuaries For Marine Mammals"

"Ocean noise pollution caused by shipping, oil and gas development, and other human activities interfere with the ability of marine mammals to detect prey and communicate with one another. Yet some areas of the ocean remain refuges of quiet. Scientists hope these acoustic sanctuaries will be protected."

"Imagine living in an environment of constant noise where you cannot get anything accomplished. Ocean noise pollution caused by shipping, oil and gas development, and other human activities is making this the reality for marine mammals in many places, interfering with their ability to detect prey and communicate with one another. Yet some areas of the ocean remain refuges of quiet. A new study has identified some of these acoustic sanctuaries off the coast of British Columbia in the hope that they may be protected.

The study, which was published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, identifies these quiet spaces as “opportunity sites.”

“They represent places where we could protect animals simply by maintaining the status quo,” Rob Williams, lead author of the study, told Mongabay. Williams, a marine conservation biologist, is co-founder of the research nonprofit Oceans Initiative, which is based in Seattle and Alert Bay, British Columbia."

Mike DiGirolamo reports for Mongabay January 12, 2016.