Too loud for Good Environmental Status? How Europe can address the threat of underwater noise

Co-organised with Seas at Risk and with the support of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions

World Ocean Day: Tuesday 8 June 2021 from 9:30 to 11:00 (CEST)

Underwater noise is one of the most widespread threats to marine life. Despite the recognition of the need to address underwater noise in the 2008 Marine Strategy Framework Directive to obtain Good Environmental Status for our seas by 2020, measures to reduce underwater noise are still scarce. Increasing levels of underwater noise created by human activities (e.g. shipping, seismic exploration, detonations etc.) remain a continuous and often deadly threat to marine mammals, fish and other forms of marine life.

This second SEArica webinar dedicated to underwater noise will feature seasoned experts outlining the state of research and policy makers outlining how to address underwater noise through European legislation and political processes such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Biodiversity Strategy, and the Zero Pollution Action Plan.

Taking place on Ocean Day and bundled with the opportunity to watch award winning documentary "Sonic Sea” it will raise awareness on the threat of underwater noise and open the discussion on how to address it.

With the participation of MEP Tonino Picula, SEArica Chair, MEP Jan-Christoph Oetjen, SEArica Vice-Chair for Maritime Transport and North Sea and MEP Pierre Karleskind, SEArica Vice-Chair for Marine and Maritime Research and PECH Chair. Expert input of Bettina Taylor, BUND/Friends of the Earth Germany, Florent Le Courtois, Co-chair of the Technical Group on Underwater Noise, SHOM (Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service), France, Herlinde Vanhoutte, Policy Officer Marine Environment at Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Belgium, Nicolas Entrup, OceanCare, Russell Leaper, International Fund for Animal Welfare and Silvia Bartolini, Head of Unit ENV.C2 Marine Environment and Water Industry, European Commission. 

The Too loud for Good Environmental Status event takes part during Ocean week, 7th – 13 June. These seven days are packed full of events, discussions and activities, all aimed at the protection and restoration of our marine species and their habitats. To find out what’s on, please visit: Ocean Week 2021.

Watch the recording of the meeting and access the chat here http://bit.ly/NOISEREPLAY // Password: SaR123!#

To dive into the sound of the ocean we also encourage you to watch the film “Sonic Sea”

Sonic Sea (62 minutes) is an Emmy-winning documentary about the devastating impact of industrial and military ocean noise on whales and other marine life. It tells the story of a former US Navy officer who solved a tragic mystery and changed the way we understand our impact on the ocean. The film is narrated by the Oscar-nominated actress, Rachel McAdams, and features the musician, Sting, in addition to the renowned ocean experts Dr. Sylvia Earle, Dr. Paul Spong, Dr. Christopher Clark and Jean-Michel Cousteau. Sonic Sea was produced by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Imaginary Forces (IF), in association with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Diamond Docs. It premiered on Discovery Channel as part of the series, Discovery Impact.