WELCOME TO BILL'S CORNER!

Dear Constituents:

During the past few months, NOAA Fisheries has hosted a series of marine mammal and acoustics lectures around the country. Right now there is a lot of interest in the ocean and the living marine resources that live there, including marine mammals. NOAA Fisheries is leading the charge to learn and share as much as we can about marine mammals and how they are affected by noises in the sea.

I would like to tell you about some of the things that NOAA Fisheries' scientists are doing to gain a better understanding of the importance of sounds to marine mammals. Today most folks are familiar with the bass thumping sounds of the largest whales, the almost haunting, moaning songs of humpbacks, and the incessant barking in a colony of sea lions.

Although the sounds are familiar to us, many of us have no idea what they mean. Marine mammals use sounds to communicate with one another, as well as to find food and predators and to navigate. Since light doesn't travel far in water, listening is the most efficient way to sense their surroundings. Marine mammals have adapted to become acoustic-oriented animals, which means their hearing is critically important to their survival. Recently, there has been a lot of interest in underwater sound because of the possibility that human noise may interfere with marine mammal hearing or affect their behavior.

NOAA Fisheries' scientists are working very hard to learn as much as they can about noise and how it affects marine mammals. Acoustics Program scientists have been working with a panel of scientific experts to systematically analyze all that is known so far about how marine mammals may be affected by both natural and human noise. We are, as always, taking a comprehensive, scientific approach in looking at this issue. One thing we've learned, is that sometimes the media and others portray this issue in black and white ways, that are perhaps not so clear. On the other hand, we do know of specific cases where marine mammals have been impacted by human noises in the sea. Acoustics experts look at many factors when studying these situations, including what is already known.

Another way NOAA Fisheries is improving our ability to understand and manage marine noise is by supporting research and convening professional meetings to address uncertainties. In addition to the lecture series I mentioned above, we have hosted a number of technical symposiums on various aspects of this issue, and have funded the development of new technology to more rapidly and efficiently measure hearing in marine mammals. In one very exciting program, we are working with the scientific community and other agencies, including universities and the Navy, to deploy noise-monitoring sensors in key areas of the ocean.

As I've mentioned, in recent months, we have held 14 lectures at aquariums and marine laboratories in nine states and Washington D.C., in an effort to increase public awareness and understanding about this issue. Some of the foremost scientists in the world have spoken at these events. Approximately 1,000 people have attended the lectures, and many new partnerships have been forged between NOAA, researchers, aquaria, marine labs and the concerned public.

I am proud of the work NOAA Fisheries is doing to study marine mammals and noise, but we have a long way to go. There are still many unknowns and so much more to learn about marine mammals and how they are affected by noise.

The familiar glumps, squeaks, whistles and barks of various marine mammals remind us how important sounds are to these animals. We are on the frontier of knowledge about how marine mammals use and are affected by human and natural sound. NOAA Fisheries will continue to look at this issue, and will work with our partners to learn as much as we can.

Keep an eye out for future lectures and ongoing studies relating to this issue.

References

Acoustics Program

National Lecture Series - "Marine Animals and Human Noise"

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