Military Sonar & Underwater Noise

Military Sonar

Military sonar has been known to injure and kill whales and part of the Marine Connection's work focuses on the effects that such sonar used by the world's Navies has on marine mammals. The systems can confuse whales, dolphins and other marine mammals, resulting in many deaths and injuries. The Royal Navy Sonar 2087 is no different.

Sonar 2087

UK Underwater Noise Report

With sound in the oceans being such an interest, a short-life UK working group to address the topic was formed and membership of the group included individuals from government departments, conservation bodies - including the Marine Connection, the research community and industry. A report from the group was published with recommendations being made primarily for Government. After the publication of the report, a UK forum was created which continues to meet regularly and discuss underwater sound in the marine environment which the charity is part of.

Underwater noise UK report

Beaked whale strandings relating to military sonar/seismic survey

There have been many instances in recent years where cetacean strandings, particularly beaked whales, have occurred in the same area and at the same time as naval forces were operating certain types of sonar equipment or seismic surveys were being carried out.

As an example, noise from a single seismic survey can flood through a region of almost 300,000 sq/km. Arrays of airguns are used for seismic surveys, especially by petrol companies looking for oil. Blasts of compressed air create impulses that hit the ocean floor and are picked up again by hydrophones to give a reading of what’s beneath the ocean floor.
Click here for an example of the blasts which cetaceans experience

Click below for a list of strandings that relate to such activities, and a report from one incident that the Marine Connection investigated in the Azores.

Strandings list and investigative report