International Management of Underwater Noise Pollution in the Northeast Atlantic

Underwater noise pollution is increasingly recognised by marine regulators and policymakers as a significant threat to marine ecosystems. Noise pollution can travel tens or even thousands of kilometres, traversing international boundaries and affecting animals which may themselves range across multiple jurisdictions. For these reasons, international cooperation is considered necessary to manage this pollution effectively. However, measures to monitor, assess and reduce noise pollution at these large scales are still in their infancy. In the Northeast Atlantic, substantive monitoring of underwater noise pollution began in 2015 through the OSPAR Convention, an intergovernmental organisation through which states in this region coordinate marine environmental policy. This paper reviews the progress made since then, highlighting lessons learned and setting out the remaining challenges for effective international noise management in this region. It is hoped that these experiences may prove useful for colleagues in other jurisdictions.