Same as humans, whales and other marine mammals communicate using sounds. And, according to research, commercial shipping silences the songs of whales.
Adding the other ocean noise increase, whales are definitely experiencing struggles in their inter-species communication.
Unfortunately, this is bad news because whale songs are unique to populations and groups and scientists believe that males use songs to attract their mates.
The songs can be quite complex and actually have several parts.
How Does the Ocean Noise Affect Whale Songs?
On the daily, oceans are full of various noises, including from ships, oil drills, military communication, and seismic testing. The scientists explain that the noise can be harmful and uncomfortable for the whales.
This is so noisy and loud that by our standards, the whales would need earmuffs to reduce the noise or they’ll go deaf, explains Cristopher Clark from Cornell University.
Recent research tested the link between whales and shipping noise.
They concluded that the whales within 1200 meters of the ships stopped with or reduced their singing when they were in close proximity.
The whales then started singing around half an hour after the ship went away.
We Have to Better the Livelihood of Marine Life-It’s Essential
According to Denise Risch from the Scottish Association for Marine Science, only few studies have tested the influence of ships on individual animals and in the context of a specific attitude.
This data, Risch added, is pivotal to assess the longer-term and bigger-scale influence that noise has or marine species.
The North Atlantic Right Whales are one of the rarest largest whales and there are only around 400 left because of whaling, noise pollution or entanglement.
You can sign the petition that asks from state senators the help saving these whales from extinction by supporting the SAVE Right Whales Act.
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