Symposium on underwater noise

There are many sources of noise underwater: on the one hand, natural sounds like the wash of the waves or communication sounds of marine animals, on the other hand, sounds created by men. The underwater noise that is caused by merchant ships is significant and can harm marine wildlife, especially marine mammals. Ship propellers, but also on-board machinery, generate a constant sound in the water. This disturbs the communication and echo localisation of the animals among each other as well as of other objects which can lead to collisions. According to the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation underwater noise has doubled every decade over the last 35 years.

On an international symposium supported by the IMO this increasingly important environmental topic becomes the focus. On 10 September 2019 experts of various maritime areas engage with the phenomenon of noise in the sea. In the morning and early noon experts will report about the sources and impacts of anthropogenic underwater noise. In the afternoon, the focus lies on the exploration of solutions: How can the underwater noise caused by humans be reduced?

The symposium is held in English. For more information, the programme and registration refer to the website of the foundation.