University of Newcastle: Shipping exposure impacts marine parks and marine giants
Shipping exposure within marine parks is likely causing long-term effects to Australian marine ecosystems and its marine life, researchers have discovered.
A team of University of Newcastle researchers in collaboration with scientists across Australia studied the wide-scale footprint of commercial shipping on Australian marine ecosystems from 2018 to 2021.
Shipping can cause both direct and indirect impacts on marine giants. It can disrupt the communication of whales due to increased noise, and collide with whales and whale sharks, often killing them.
The study, published today in Marine and Freshwater Research showed that in Australia over 18 percent of marine parks were exposed to more than 365 vessels per year.
Study lead author, University of Newcastle’s Dr Vincent Raoult, said enforcing slower shipping speed zones would help reduce the impact of shipping on the environment.
“Enforcing low speed zones would lower the risk of collisions with whales and produce less noise for marine animals,” Dr Raoult said.
“Marine parks should be designated spaces where protections are in place against rapid increases in shipping exposure. Australians are very attached to our coastlines, and its important people are aware of the extent and impact shipping exposure has on our marine eco-system.
“The goal of this research is to highlight the real extent of shipping impacts on regional and global scales, and the possible long-term effects on marine eco-systems. Many of our marine parks such as the Great Barrier Reef have major shipping lanes next to or through them.
Impact on marine giants
Migrating marine wildlife are exposed to shipping activity throughout the world’s oceans.
“Shipping impacts are a major environmental concern that can affect the behaviour and health of marine animals and have damaging effects on coastal ecosystems.” Dr Raoult said.
Dr Raoult said rapid increases in shipping exposure may limit the ability of marine communities to adapt to increased threats.
“The impact acoustic pollution can have on marine animals is disturbing. Shipping exposure adds noise disruption which can affect the ability for whales to communicate with their families over long distances and increases stress levels in other animals.
“You can imagine if a highway suddenly appears next to your house, the sort of wellbeing impacts it would have. You would be stressed from the constant noise and would have to constantly shout to talk to your family. Shipping is the same for marine animals.
“Shipping exposure within Australian waters is increasing on a national and global scale. We need to take steps today to reduce the shipping impacts on our marine coastlines.” Dr Raoult said.