Marine mammals depend on sound to communicate, navigate and to search for food in our oceans. When we increase the ambient noise in the oceans, we decrease their ability to survive.

Sources of Ocean Noise A modern-day supertanker cruising at 17 knots (about 20 mph) fills the lower frequencies with a steady sonic roar of about 200 decibels, the equivalent of a commercial jet at takeoff.

The offshore oil industry relies on the explosive power of airguns, discharging tens of thousands of blasts as loud as 250 decibels.

The Navy is developing a “low-frequency” active sonar system, designed to detect foreign submarines by bombarding the seas with sound, reportedly in the range of 235 decibels or higher. (See Navy Noise!)

The federal government is preparing to test a new pulsed power “acoustic harassment” technology that will intentionally bombard marine mammals with potentially deafening underwater noise and disorienting shock waves for the purpose of determining whether California sea lions can be prevented from eating the fish caught by party boats. This noise will be as loud as 230 decibels!

Dangers!
The following pictures may be difficult to look at, but if we are to protect cetaceans, we must be aware of the dangers that they face, from humans with which they share their habitat!

This whale caught her jaw on a cable below the sea and fought so hard to get free that she broke her jaw and died from infection, which also killed her unborn calf.

This whale was killed when its tail flukes were caught in fishing line. It became tangled then drifted for about a year before dying of starvation and dehydration.

Killer Whales of Southern Alaska by Craig Matkin

Killer Whales of Southern Alaska

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: North Gulf Oceanic Society, Alabama (1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963346792
• ISBN-13: 978-0963346797
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces

Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises by Mark Carwardine

Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises

• Flexibound: 256 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT (May 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789489902
• ISBN-13: 978-0789489906
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds

Among Whales by Roger Payne

Among Whales by Roger Payne

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Delta (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385316593
• ISBN-13: 978-0385316590
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds

Presence of Whales: Contemporary Writings by Frank Stewart

Presence of Whales: Contemporary Writings

• Paperback: 319 pages
• Publisher: Alaska Northwest Books (June 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882404644
• ISBN-13: 978-0882404646
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches

Whale Tales: Human Interactions With Whales by Peter J. Fromm and Andrew Seltser

Whale Tales: Human Interactions With Whales

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Whale Tales Press (April 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096487041X
• ISBN-13: 978-0964870413
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches

The Whale Watcher’s Guide: Whale-Watching Trips in North America by Patricia Corrigan

The Whale Watcher's Guide: Whale-Watching Trips in North America

• Paperback: 327 pages
• ISBN-10: 1559714360
• ASIN: B000H2M66M

Orca: Visions of the Killer Whale by Peter Knudtson and David Suzuki

Orca: Visions of the Killer Whale

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Greystone Books; First Trade Paper Edition edition (May 18, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1553650344
• ISBN-13: 978-1553650348
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 9.4 x 0.5 inches

Transients: Mammal-Hunting Killer Whales of British Columbia, Washington, and Southeastern Alaska by John K. B. Ford and Graeme M. Ellis

Transients: Mammal-Hunting Killer Whales of British Columbia, Washington, and Southeastern Alaska

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: University of Washington Press (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0295978171
• ISBN-13: 978-0295978178
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces