Noise and Light Pollution

Ocean pollution is not only chemical. Underwater noise from shipping, sonar, and seismic surveys has risen sharply, and it interferes with marine mammals that depend on sound to communicate, navigate, and hunt across huge distances. Shipping noise can shrink the range over which whales hear each other, and dolphins in busy lanes show chronic stress and altered feeding.

Artificial coastal light is the other half of the problem. Sea turtle hatchlings instinctively crawl toward the brightest horizon, which used to be moonlight on the water. Near developed coasts they head inland toward streetlights and buildings instead, and large numbers never reach the sea.