A growing body of scientific literature provides the basis for emerging global efforts to regulate shipping noise and manage its impact on the great whales.

Shipping plays an indisputably essential role in the world’s economy, and the merchant fleet has grown rapidly since the mid-twentieth century, increasing the risk of harm to mysticetes.

International norms and treaties have begun to curb the traditional fundamental freedom to navigate the high seas without considering the environmental impacts.

Acting through its member States, the IMO is the international agency with the primary authority to regulate most pollutants that are discharged from commercial vessels into the ocean.

The Impacts on Mysticetes of Underwater Noise Pollution from Commercial Shipping in the High Seas

and Opportunities for International Regulation!!

Lora L. Nordtvedt Reeve, J.D., M.S., M.B.A.!lreeve@hawaii.edu!

Underwater noise pollution generated by high seas commercial shipping has been demonstrated to have significant adverse impacts on mysticete species.

Underwater noise is not currently regulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This paper proposes that 1) the agency define and regulate acoustic emissions as a new category of marine pollutant or 2) nations negotiate a new treaty to address all sources of anthropogenic underwater noise.