Ocean Care
Statement on behalf of Ocean Care
Thank you Chair. This statement is delivered by OceanCare and 24 other NGOs who share
concern that ocean noise pollution, generated by a variety of human activities, is a significant
threat to marine ecosystems, marine animals and the future sustainability of our oceans.
Firstly we would like to highlight that we welcome that ocean noise has been chosen as the focus
of the 19th meeting of the UN’s Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea
next year.
Next, we wish to outline the following summarised recommendations related to Ocean Noise -
the more detailed statement is available from OceanCare on our website.
• Ocean noise must be addressed as a serious marine pollution issue under SDG14.1 which seeks to
prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds.
• The detrimental effects of ocean noise on fish, and therefore fisheries, undermines global efforts to
restore fish stocks and therefore requires the increased involvement of specialist UN agencies such
as the FAO and RFMOs
• We urge governments to establish indicators and targets for ocean noise management, supported
by national and regional noise registers and monitoring programmes, following the example set by
the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
• Robust, comprehensive and transparent environmental impact assessments must be incorporated
into domestic ocean noise management measures
• We welcome the development of an international legally binding BBNJ,instrument under
UNCLOS which we believe should incorporate measures to manage underwater noise pollution.
• The introduction of noise into protected and sensitive areas must be controlled. High risk activities
(including, seismic surveys for oil and gas, extraction and military training) and the noise they
generate should be prohibited from operating in, and propagating noise into, sensitive habitats.
• We urge commitments from governments towards implementing existing policy measures that
contribute towards the reduction and management of ocean noise.
• In the case of the IMO’s Guidelines for the Reduction of Underwater Noise from Commercial
Shipping we urge industry to implement these in ship design and repair, and for governments to
quickly turn these voluntary guidelines into legally binding measures.
• Finally, but critically, we call for the support of the UN General Assembly and all relevant
organisations, agreements and nations to work towards towards the development of a global
strategy that would seek to reverse the trend of rising ocean noise levels globally
Thank you Chair. This statement is delivered by OceanCare and 24 other NGOs who share
concern that ocean noise pollution, generated by a variety of human activities, is a significant
threat to marine ecosystems, marine animals and the future sustainability of our oceans.
Firstly we would like to highlight that we welcome that ocean noise has been chosen as the focus
of the 19th meeting of the UN’s Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea
next year.
Next, we wish to outline the following summarised recommendations related to Ocean Noise -
the more detailed statement is available from OceanCare on our website.
• Ocean noise must be addressed as a serious marine pollution issue under SDG14.1 which seeks to
prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds.
• The detrimental effects of ocean noise on fish, and therefore fisheries, undermines global efforts to
restore fish stocks and therefore requires the increased involvement of specialist UN agencies such
as the FAO and RFMOs
• We urge governments to establish indicators and targets for ocean noise management, supported
by national and regional noise registers and monitoring programmes, following the example set by
the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
• Robust, comprehensive and transparent environmental impact assessments must be incorporated
into domestic ocean noise management measures
• We welcome the development of an international legally binding BBNJ,instrument under
UNCLOS which we believe should incorporate measures to manage underwater noise pollution.
• The introduction of noise into protected and sensitive areas must be controlled. High risk activities
(including, seismic surveys for oil and gas, extraction and military training) and the noise they
generate should be prohibited from operating in, and propagating noise into, sensitive habitats.
• We urge commitments from governments towards implementing existing policy measures that
contribute towards the reduction and management of ocean noise.
• In the case of the IMO’s Guidelines for the Reduction of Underwater Noise from Commercial
Shipping we urge industry to implement these in ship design and repair, and for governments to
quickly turn these voluntary guidelines into legally binding measures.
• Finally, but critically, we call for the support of the UN General Assembly and all relevant
organisations, agreements and nations to work towards towards the development of a global
strategy that would seek to reverse the trend of rising ocean noise levels globally