Stop Deadly Sounds

Stop Deadly Underwater Sounds!!!

High intensity manmade underwater sounds are deadly dangerous to dolphins, whales, fish, and other marine life!!! There is grave concern that the proliferation of these high intensity underwater sounds poses significant threats to marine mammals, fish and other ocean wildlife.

These deadly manmade sounds are being produced by air guns used for seismic surveys and oil and gas exploration, military active sonars, and underwater demolition, all of which are filling the seas. The problem with all these sounds is that some are so loud and intense; they can injure, deafen, and even kill marine life. Scientists agree, and a growing body of research confirms, that the intense sound produced by these noise sources can induce a range of adverse effects in marine mammals.

These impacts, as listed by the US Marine Mammal Commission, include death from hemorrhaging and trauma, hearing loss, stress, disruption of feeding and breeding, and the abandonment of traditional habitats, causing subsequent decreases in marine mammal survival and productivity. Loud underwater sounds also effect fish and other marine life. Several recent studies show harmful effects on fish from exposure to sonar and air guns including auditory damage, eye hemorrhaging, and decreases in already depleted commercial catches. Moreover, the Navy's own research shows adverse effects on human divers exposed to active sonar including dizziness, memory loss, and seizures. The evidence is clear from the recent mass stranding in the Florida Keys, North Carolina, Hawaii, Puget Sound, the Canary Islands, and the Bahamas over the past 5 years.

Manmade ocean noise pollution is a deadly problem and there is a growing international consensus on regulating ocean noise. Spain has stopped all sonar testing exercises in the Canary Islands, the European Parliament has passed a resolution asking Member States to regulate the use of High Intensity Active Sonars in waters under their jurisdiction and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) had this to say: "Military operations involving the use of high-intensity sonar, explosive devices, and other intense noise sources pose both lethal and sub-lethal threats to cetaceans." We are now calling on the United Nations to join this consensus and take the lead in developing the legal mechanisms for the regulation of underwater noise to ensure the health and safety of our oceans and all marine life while ensuring the health and safety of ourselves.

We are calling on the United Nations to join this consensus and take the lead in developing the legal mechanisms for the regulation of underwater noise to ensure the health and safety of our oceans and all marine life while ensuring the health and safety of ourselves. On June 14th, 2006, we presented our film "Deadly Sounds in the Silent World II" to the delegates attending the United Nations meeting on the Law of the Sea.