July 1, 2025

Panama, Canada, and 35 other countries commit to tackling underwater noise pollution to protect marine life

During the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), Ministers from Panama and Canada joined leaders from 35 other countries to launch the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, the first global political coalition dedicated to reducing harmful ocean noise pollution.

The launch of the Coalition underscores the growing international resolve to tackle ocean noise pollution as a key threat to marine biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Underwater noise pollution from multiple sources – particularly the continuous noise from commercial shipping – negatively impacts marine life, interfering with their ability to communicate, navigate, and find food, threatening marine biodiversity at a planetary scale.

“Too often, the issue of ocean noise has been sidelined in global environmental discourse,” said The Honorable Juan Carlos Navarro, Minister of Environment for Panama. “With this Coalition, we are committing to act decisively to protect marine biodiversity from this invisible yet powerful threat.”

The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Canada’s Ambassador to France and Monaco, on behalf of the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, emphasized the urgency of collective action: “Ocean noise is a global issue that requires ambitious global cooperation. Through this Coalition, we are demonstrating Canada’s commitment to international leadership on ocean conservation and inviting our partners to join us in restoring a quieter, healthier ocean for future generations—while supporting sustainable economic activity.”

Ministers from around the world gathered on Tuesday June 10^th  to sign a Declaration that outlines the Coalition’s shared commitment to mitigate the growing threat of underwater noise and reduce impacts to marine life.

The Declaration outlines an ambitious agenda, including:

            • Advancing quieter ship design and operations through new policies at the International Maritime Organization (IMO);

            • Taking noise reduction measures into account in the creation and management of marine protected areas;

            • Implementing solutions to reduce vessel noise and other shipping-related impacts on sensitive marine wildlife;

            • Supporting capacity-building through shared tools and technologies, such as those from the IMO’s GloNoise Partnership.

The Honorable Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, European Commission, said: “We all rely on our seas for transport and tourism, but this must never come at the expense of the environment. Protecting our ocean is a shared responsibility, and we must act together to safeguard their future. That’s why the EU’s newly adopted Ocean Pact commits the European Union to supporting the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean – because with shared resources comes shared duty.”

The Honorable Sara Aagesen Muñoz, Third Vice President of the Government of Spain and Minister of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge said: “In two weeks Spain (Vigo) will host the 2025 OSPAR Convention Ministerial meeting, where we hope to see the approval of the first Regional Plan on Underwater Noise, with actions that will guide the joint efforts of the parties to advance in the fight against underwater noise.”

The Honorable Willem van de Voorde, Special Envoy for Climate and Environment, Belgium, said: “Belgium is honored to lend its support and join the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean in pursuit of a quieter and healthier ocean. As a nation dedicated to sustainable ocean governance and environmental stewardship, Belgium pledges its unwavering commitment to the objectives articulated herein. In doing so, we reaffirm our responsibility to protect the marine environment for current and future generations.”

Attending the Coalition launch, aboard the ArtExplorer docked in the Port of Nice, are leaders from Indigenous communities, the shipping industry, environmental NGOs and intergovernmental bodies, reflecting a growing international consensus that ocean noise must be addressed to meet global biodiversity and climate goals.

“We will not be able to meet our goals to protect marine biodiversity and ocean health without tackling the rising tide of ocean noise pollution,” said Regan Nelson, senior ocean advocate at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “The launch of the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean marks a long-overdue turning point. Governments around the world are coming together to shine a spotlight on this significant threat and commit to meaningful action. This is a powerful step toward restoring a healthier, quieter ocean.”

“The maritime sector recognizes that underwater noise from shipping poses an environmental challenge that we must work together to solve. Innovations in ship design, operational practices, and routing strategies can reduce our acoustic footprint. But not only that, these measures can help the shipping industry increase efficiency and cut greenhouse gas emissions. The launch of the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean is an important step toward aligning industry and governments around practical, science-based solutions that support both sustainable shipping and healthy oceans,” said Dr. Bev Mackenzie, head of Intergovernmental Affairs from BIMCO, a major shipping industry trade organization.

More about the High Ambition Coalition can be found online at www.foraquietocean.org.