At the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), leaders from 37 countries, including Panama and Canada, came together to launch the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean—the first global political alliance dedicated to reducing underwater noise pollution, a major but often overlooked threat to marine biodiversity.
The coalition aims to address harmful noise from sources like commercial shipping and foster international cooperation to protect the oceans’ acoustic environment.
A Global Call to Action for Quieter Oceans
Ministers from across the world signed a joint Declaration of Commitment, uniting around shared goals to protect marine species from noise pollution that disrupts their communication, navigation, and survival.
The Declaration includes ambitious objectives such as:
-
Promoting quieter ship designs and improved operations through the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
-
Incorporating noise reduction in the planning and governance of marine protected areas.
-
Implementing shipping practices that minimize harm to sensitive marine species.
-
Supporting shared technologies and capacity-building via efforts like the IMO’s GloNoise Partnership.
Voices from the Global South, Europe, and Indigenous Communities
Panama’s Minister Juan Carlos Navarro called “Too often, the issue of ocean noise has been sidelined in global environmental discourse,” Canada’s representative emphasized the need for urgent global collaboration to ensure healthier oceans while supporting sustainable economic activity.
European Commission’s transport head, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, pledged the EU’s support through its newly adopted Ocean Pact, while Spain, Belgium, and Chile voiced strong commitments to aligning regional and global efforts, including the upcoming OSPAR Convention Ministerial Meeting hosted in Spain.
Indigenous leaders and civil society groups also took part in the coalition launch, adding diverse and critical voices to the initiative.
Shipping Industry Steps Up
The maritime industry, long seen as a major source of ocean noise, is now engaging proactively.
Dr. Bev Mackenzie of BIMCO, a leading shipping industry body, acknowledged the problem and promoted practical solutions:
-
Quieter ship design and routing
-
Efficiency gains that lower both noise and carbon emissions
These dual benefits offer a path forward for climate-smart, sustainable shipping.
Underwater Noise: The Invisible Threat
CT Harry of the Environmental Investigation Agency described sound as “the lifeblood for marine species.”
Underwater noise pollution threatens the survival of:
-
Whales and dolphins
-
Fish species that depend on sonar communication
-
Ecosystems already under climate and habitat stress
The Coalition aims to reshape ocean governance by recognizing acoustic health as a fundamental part of ocean conservation.
The launch of the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean marks a historic step in tackling one of the ocean’s most pervasive, least visible threats. By aligning governments, industry, scientists, and Indigenous communities around science-based, scalable solutions, the initiative is set to bring renewed focus to underwater noise reduction as a core component of marine biodiversity, climate resilience, and sustainable development.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free Click here to Subscribe!
Source: environmental investigation agency
