Work

Environmental impact assessment of continuous underwater noise in the Baltic Sea

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Here we present the first basin scale implementation of the new EU Technical Group on Underwater Noise framework for assessing the environmental status of low frequency continuous noise. This was carried out in the frames of the EU-funded HELCOM BLUES project for the HOLAS 3. The assessment was based on modeled levels in two 125 and 500 Hz decidecade bands deemed relevant for the indicator fish and marine mammals respectively. The risk for disturbance and the risk for masking were assessed in parallel. It was assessed that the low frequency continuous noise did not have a significant negative impact on marine mammals. Simultaneously, the indicator fish species are probably negatively impacted. We also discuss the factors that affect the reliability of these results and give our opinions on the steps forward in order to improve the reliability in the future.

Source: Marine Pollution Bulletin

DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117105

Authors: Aleksander Klauson, Mirko Mustonen, Thomas Folegot, Jakob Tougaard

Institution: Tallinn University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Marine animal studies overview

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,630