Effects of Anthropogenic Sounds on Fishes

There is increasing concern regarding the effect of human-generated (anthropogenic) sounds on marine organisms. While most concern is focused on marine mammals, many of the lower frequency (under 1,000 Hz) sounds are also likely to affect fish. Anthropogenic sounds can range from very intense signals such as noise generated by ships and their sonars to far less intense signals such as background sounds in hatcheries and oceanariums. The sounds may affect behavior and/or physiology, although very little is specifically known about how sounds affect fish. Limited data suggest that short- or long-term exposure to loud sounds may alter behavior, and also result in temporary or permanent loss of hearing. In order to better understand this issue, a series of studies are needed that systematically explore both behavioral and physiological effects of different types of sounds on a select group of species at different stages of their development.