A recent study published in Nature reveals that melting Arctic sea ice has led to increased vessel traffic, raising underwater noise levels by 30%. This significantly disrupts communication, navigation, and foraging among marine mammals such as whales. Species like fin whales and bowhead whales, which rely on sound for orientation, face survival challenges. Noise pollution may cause behavioral changes, reduced reproduction rates, and population fragmentation. Calls are being made for the International Maritime Organization to establish noise limits for Arctic navigation, reducing engine noise and the use of mine-hunting sonar.
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