Date: June 6, 2017
Source: University of Exeter
Noise from motorboats is making
fish become bad parents, and reducing the chance of their young surviving,
research led by marine experts at the University of Exeter has shown.
The sound of motorboat engines
disturbed coral reef fish so acutely it changed the behaviour of parents, and
stopped male fish properly guarding their young, feeding and interacting with
their offspring.
The research, which involved
playing recordings of natural reef noise or intermittent motorboat noise around
38 fish nests over 12 days, found that the death-rates of baby fish exposed to
boat engine noise increased significantly, with six of the 19 boat-noise nests
suffering complete mortality.
The Exeter University led team of
marine biologists say that noise from boats is a 'global pollutant',
distracting fish and making them unable to properly protect their young from
predators. They believe motorboat noise should be factored in when trying to
protect fish stocks and manage fisheries.
Dr Steve Simpson, an expert of
the impact of noise on marine life at the University of Exeter.
"This study raises important
implications for managing the noise of the 100,000s of motorboats used around
the world in coral reef environments. We are now considering acoustic quiet
zones and corridors, and exploring how engine and propeller development can
reduce the impact of this globally prevalent pollutant."
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