[CINC] Ocean sound issues for sea life

[Ken Macdonald]

FYI:

In an ocean of noise, sea life faces new threat
For a decade, marine biologists have been trying to unravel the subtle ways
sonar may harm whales and dolphins, which hunt and travel using
echolocation. But experts peeling back the role of sound in the marine world
are making surprising observations.  Alongside a boom in international
shipping and deep-sea oil development, the ocean is growing ever-noisier and
scientists are increasingly wary of sound's potential to impact sea life
beyond just marine mammals.

Herring and cod appear to alter their swimming patterns in response to noise
from ships. Schools of bluefin tuna scatter, with some diving and others
rising to the surface. New studies suggest even small bumps in ocean noise
may affect everything from damselfish and pollock to octopus and squid. To
read the entire article, visit
http://www.oceanleadership.org/2011/in-an-ocean-of-noise-sea-life-faces-new-
threat/

Ken Macdonald



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