Port of Seattle launches underwater noise assessment program

The Port of Seattle has partnered with SLR Consulting, a Green Marine International partner, to design and implement an underwater noise assessment program that will establish baseline ambient noise levels in Puget Sound. Over the next two years, the port will use this data-driven approach to better understand the underwater soundscape and guide strategies to reduce noise impacts on marine life.

Two hydrophones were successfully deployed on July 24^th by the Seattle Aquarium and Jack Block Park. These devices will record continuous sound data, focusing on pressure (loudness) and frequency. The collected information will be used to create a clear soundscape of existing noise conditions, involving everything from vessel traffic to environmental sounds, and will help to establish reduction targets that protect vulnerable species such as the Southern Resident killer whales. The data retrieval from the hydrophones started in August, and the first quarterly report will be shared in November.

For an insider’s look at why and how the program is being implemented, see the port’s YouTube video below.