There is a lot of talk about the pollution in our oceans. But it is almost entirely about plastics, trash and oil. Another form of pollution is affecting the oceans in a deadly way. Noise pollution.
Light doesn’t travel very far under the sea so sounds are vital to marine mammal survival. Beneath the earth’s surface sounds that we make are disruptive – and dangerous. Ocean noise pollution is driving animals out of their habitats and reducing their ability to communicate, navigate, locate prey, avoid predators and find mates. The noise of human activities such as commercial shipping, seismic surveys, oil exploration and military sonar have potentially deadly consequences for marine mammals.
An International Ocean Noise Pollution Awareness Day will make the general public and institutions pay attention for the first time and educate people about the problem, what is and what isn’t being done about it. It is very much needed. Ultimately it will put pressure on companies and governments that have the power and influence to make a real difference.
Freelance art director, Paola Delgado Cornejo; copywriter, Kelsey Lundstrom, and strategist, Garrett Chun, are fighting to make awareness happen. The team of creatives who are passionate about the environment has found an ally, Big Blue Ocean Clean Up, to help spread information and trigger donations. They’ve created a YouTube channel called Ultrasounds of the Ocean.
Its videos appear to be regular ocean inspired meditation. Instead they make listeners feel the disturbing noise that underwater creatures experience every day.
On Twitter, they used the new Voice Tweets feature to tweet the most known underwater noises created by humans – seismic air guns, propellers and navy sonar.
And they have created a change.org petition asking for the creation of an International Day for Ocean Noise Pollution Awareness. Sign the petition.
Read the UOTO case study and find out more about Paola Delgado Cornejo and her work here.
Cover image: Emiliano Arano from Pexels
