The problem of underwater noise pollution and its ramifications on marine life have drawn widespread attention, with international and non-governmental organisations stepping in and implementing underwater noise mitigation measures to tackle the issue (Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment, 2019).   Despite these measures, underwater noise pollution still remains largely unaddressed in the Arctic. Why is that so? In today’s entry, I will highlight some existing measures in place and their…

Rising ocean temperatures and the melting of ice caps have resulted in a prolonged ‘open water’ season in the Arctic Ocean (McWhinnie et al., 2018). As a result, these ice-free waters have drawn further shipping and seismic activities in the Arctic Ocean, increasing marine vessel traffic levels. Such marine industrial development has transformed the Arctic Ocean from a quiet sanctuary to a man-made racket, posing an overwhelming threat to our…

With the rapid advancement of technology along with its concomitant human activities, oceans are no longer an acoustic refuge for our marine mammals. Regardless of whether these man-made sounds are intentional or not, they result in underwater noise pollution that interferes with and endangers our marine life (Hildebrand, 2004).  So, what can we do about the situation? First, we need to understand the root causes of underwater noise pollution by…

Many marine species heavily rely on natural sounds to find their way around, communicate, find food and even reproduce.  For instance, Bowhead whales sing for prolonged periods during the winter period to woo potential mates. Pistol shrimps create powerful air sound columns by snapping their huge claws to stun and capture their prey (Versluis, 2000). Narwhals depend on vocalisations to echolocate themselves or reunite with other group members who are…

Living in Singapore, many of us may be very familiar with the loud and distinct calls (or noises) of the Asian Koel, otherwise commonly labelled as the “uwu bird”. These continuous series of high-pitched “uwu” calls can be heard from as early as 5am in the morning, with some lasting until the night near residential estates (National Parks Board, 2021).  While some Singaporeans are completely unaffected by the sound, with…