A new study has found that industrial noise can have a massive impact on the Kemp Ridley sea turtle’s hearing.
The research aimed to look at the impact of noise pollution on one of the world’s rarest turtles, which inhabits waters off the US East Coast and the Gulf, one the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
The researchers tested the turtle’s hearing at a wide range of sound frequencies. They found that the turtles’ best hearing was around the 300 hertz range. Unfortunately, that is the range in which much industrial and boat noise is produced.
Commenting on the study and the impact of human noise on the Kemp Ridely sea turtle study, author Charles Muirhead stated:
“They face a variety of threats, including accidental capture in fishing gear, vessel strikes, ingestion of plastic debris, and degradation of nesting beaches and coastal habitat. Because they occupy nearshore and shelf waters of the Gulf Coast and western North Atlantic — areas with intense human activity — they are frequently exposed to overlapping stressors throughout much of their life cycle.”
Discussing the findings, he added:
“Our findings indicate that the turtles are most sensitive in the same low-frequency band where much industrial and vessel noise occurs. This does not automatically mean that harmful effects are occurring, but it highlights where further monitoring and targeted impact studies should be focused.”
Additionally, Muirhead said:
“These efforts will help refine our understanding of how human-caused noise interacts with sea turtle sensory systems. They will also support evidence-based management approaches aimed at minimizing unintended impacts while balancing human activities in coastal and offshore waters.”
Check out the full report.
