Whales to Benefit from

Reduction in Shipping

Noise

By: Jernisha Williams

Scie

ntist

s &

Orga

niza

tions

In

volve

d

• Dr. Mark Baumgartner • Scientist at Woods Hole

Oceanographic Institution• Studies and researches top predator

ecology and the physical and biological oceanographic processes that allow predators to survive in the ocean

• In the article, he describes or explains how whales hear ships in the ocean and came up with new routes for ships.

• Dr. David Wiley• Research Coordinator at National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

• Designs and implements research projects to save endangered whales

• Wiley and his team of scientists found shattered bones and hematoma in whales, which indicated whales were being hit by ships

• International Maritime Organization• Responsible for the safety and

security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships

• Approved new shipping route provided by Dr. Wiley and his team

Wha

t's th

e Ar

ticle

Abo

ut?

• North Atlantic right whale is being

threatened by shipping routes

• Ships cause excessive noise and colliding

with whales

• Whales cannot communicate with one

another, locate food, and mate with each

other

• Causing decline in the whale population

• Scientists trying get companies to

change shipping routes

• Dr. David Wiley and his team have

calculated new shipping routes that have

been approved by the International

Maritime Organization

How It Relates to APES?• Noise pollution - any unwanted

or disturbing sound that can

potentially cause adverse

effects to the environment and

the surrounding species• Causes health issues and interferes

with species’ daily activities

• Population and the factors that

can cause a decline or increase

in the number of species• Includes pollution, loss habitat, or

loss of food

Ques

tions

?

• Are there ways of making

ships less noisy, if changing

shipping routes is not possible?• Could ships possibly install

passive sonars that can locate

whales, so ships can know to

change course?• Are other marine animals

being affecting by the noise? If

so, how are they affected?

My Thoughts 

• Did not think it was a real big issue but it really is serious

• Noise pollution is real and it does affect the environment and animals

• Realized that noise can cause hearing issues, interfere with speech or communication, and cause stress

• Human activities are the main cause for noise pollution • We operate loud machinery like cars and

ships, we own factories that produce loud noises, and make tons of noise just by ourselves without any technology

• Humans need to reduce the amount noise we make• Find quieter ways of doing things