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Trade sanctions announced after Mexico fails to protect near extinct porpoise

The international body behind the treaty that protects endangered plants and animals from the threats...

WDC exposes failure of Government scheme to protect whales and dolphins from net deaths

Following our investigations, we have revealed that a UK Government scheme to protect whales and...

First cases of bird flu in dolphins discovered in the UK

The UK Government has announced that two dolphins and a harbour porpoise have died from...
Kiska the orca

Kiska the ‘world’s loneliest whale’ dies at Canadian theme park

Kiska, dubbed the loneliest whale in the world, has died at Marineland, a zoo and...

Study Reveals Man-made Noise Travels 4000km Under Water

Acoustic ‘listening’ devices placed in the sea to measure seismic ‘noise’ activity over a 10 year period have revealed some astounding and very worrying results.

The devices were placed in an area at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and recorded the airgun sounds produced from vessels looking for oil and gas deposits below the seabed. Surprisingly, airgun sounds were recorded almost 4000 km from the survey vessel in areas that are likely occupied by fin whales, and at some locations airgun sounds were recorded almost every day for more than 12 consecutive months. Both airgun and fin whale sounds were also recorded at all sites.

Understanding the true impact of this noise on fin whale communication and on individuals or populations is difficult but, given the distance over which airgun sounds travel, this is very worrying indeed. Fin whale populations are still reduced from whaling activities, and their communication under the water is likely to play and important role in successful future breeding.

Find out more about the survey details
More on noise pollution