Manmade noise pollution ‘threatening’ marine life

MANMADE noise pollution from ships, underwater explosions and offshore construction could be damaging marine life’s hearing and impacting on the vital fishing industry by interfering with migration and breeding patterns.

Speakers at a week-long international conference have warned that despite marine industries providing significant benefits to local economies, the potential damage caused to marine habitats is risking the safety of local sea life.

On the first day of the conference on the effects of noise on aquatic life, at the Clarion Hotel in Cork city, 250 of the world’s leading marine experts said manmade acts may be inadvertently making diving birds go deaf, interfering with fish mating and migration, and causing increasing discomfort to sea life.