Recent research has indicated that the noise level in the ocean has increased over 20-30 decibels and is driving many species of sea life crazy. In fact, many species actually survive on their perception of sound and now, with the interference, are prevented from effective feeding, mating, and protection from predators, not to mention simply being chased away from the sound sources.
Unfortunately, the question must be asked, where will they go? It is not as if the ocean is unlimited and the required conditions for support of various life forms vary throughout the ocean so this is becoming an increasingly complex and dangerous issue. It is difficult to tell what the long-term effect will be but we may be looking at the worst case of pollution imaginable.
Much of this noise comes from the pounding of drilling, the sound from cruise ships and trawlers and other mechanical sources. The Japanese and Europeans have been aware of this for some time and have devised many muffling devices to prevent and diminish such exposure, all of which work very well and combined make a real difference. However, USA commercial enterprises have not yet caught on and since it is not mandatory and expensive, it is unlikely to catch on until we see some real measurable damage and such controls are legislated into a requirement.
While I despise government controls, this may be an area where we need them.
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