This record provides an overview of the scope and research data outputs of NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub Project E2 - "Characterising anthropogenic underwater noise to improve understanding and management of acoustic impacts to marine wildlife". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata.
Shipping noise is a marine pollutant that contributes significantly to the marine soundscape and is a stressor of marine animals, particularly marine mammals. In Australia, the characterisation and actual impacts of shipping noise on species behaviour are not clearly understood and information is needed. This research will provide quantitative spatial and temporal maps of shipping noise to inform on noise exposure and impacts to MNES within the EEZ and in WHA’s. The outputs will provide key information to marine management agencies such as DoEE, AMSA and GBRMPA to help them meet responsibilities and obligations under international and national law and policy to minimise the impacts of shipping noise on MNES.
Planned Outputs
• A suite of maps of chronic shipping noise for key areas and species of concern, identifying key management areas and gross polluters.
• A database of ship source spectra for predominant large vessels
• A paper on improved methods or ambient noise estimation
• Report on the quantification of shipping noise on Matters of National Environmental Significance
• Final report on the characterisation of shipping noise in Australia
