Ears Wide Open

Current Activities Highlights

Since spring, three new shoots have blossomed here at the Acoustic Ecology Institute, each the result of months of nurturing.

Our new focus on using sound to present scientific research has emerged into the world, with a growing section of the website devoted to it, and talks at symposia and conferences by AEI Executive Director Jim Cummings, as well as Board President David Dunn. For more on this, see THIS LINK, and to read an introductory essay on the work by Jim, complete with sound samples, GO HERE.

Likewise, two essays that Jim has been working on for a few months in those spare moments when he can actually settle into the creative pursuit of writing, have been completed; or, at least reached the point where they can be shared with friends. Scroll down and see links to these new writings, which begin to sketch out a new focus of the Institute's work on ocean noise: consideration of the effects of chronic exposure to moderate levels of noise. When we move further than simply aiming to not injure animals with sound, and begin to consider the biological and ethical implications of our ceaseless noise-making, we enter new territory in our relationships with other creatures.

Finally, and most importantly, the IRS finally dug through its stacks of applications and has formally approved AEI's status as a 501(c)3 organization. Our fund-raising plan, on hold since January (when we were told to expect action), is finally grinding into gear! During the intervening months, membership donations from new members have played a key role by funding the modest overhead costs of the Institute. Now we can begin to solicit large donations that can pay some salary! The Board of Directors is aiming to find 5-10 family foundations and individual benefactors who are sufficiently aligned with the Institute's mission and approach to offer annual pledges toward our modest annual budget of about $50,000. Thanks to AEI's collaborative relationships and role as a source of information and resources for other organizations, agencies, and researchers, support of our work pays dividends far beyond the concrete work done here. If you know someone who may like to be a benefactor, we would be happy to send you a concise letter of introduction to pass on to them.

Of course, as evidenced by the brief summaries linked from the "Contents" box above, we've also been busy carrying on with the ongoing work of the Insitute, putting together new Special Reports, tracking news items, and summarizing recent scientific research. Please peruse the links, and do let us know what you find especially engaging.

Ocean Noise and Ethics / Chronic Exposure to Moderate Noise in the Ocean

Over the past two years, as I've found myself drawn ever deeper into the world of ocean noise, I've often felt torn between the voice of reasoned analysis of the issues at play and the measurable effects of our noise on ocean creatures, and a desire to speak more from the heart about the underlying questions raised by humanity's habit of moving ahead, blindly (deafly?), in whatever direction we wish.

My broad exposure to environmental advocates, field researchers, industry perspectives, and agency staffers has led me to understand that the effects of ocean noise are not easily understood or dealt with. But more importantly, I've become convinced that the central focus of most of the debate is misplaced. The dramatic, and tragically avoidable, strandings of whales and dolphins after extreme noise exposure are, understandably but disoncertingly, dominating our attention, while other, more fundamental impacts and questions receive little notice. I am becoming increasingly concerned that these rare deaths are far less important to the health of the seas than the subtler, increasingly widespread exposure of ocean creatures to chronic, moderate levels of human noise. The stress reaction triggered when human noise causes difficulties in communicating or repeatedly makes animals move away from disturbing noise sources is likely weakening most ocean creatures, making them more susceptible to the witch's brew of other human insults to their habitats, from toxins to warming oceans and diminishing food supplies. Recent research confirms that chronic ship noise increases stress in fish; the link between stress and impaired health has been confirmed in many animals (though not, to date, marine creatures).

I'll have much more to say about this need to address the subtler affects of noise in the months to come. Over the past few months, I've been working on a couple of essays that move beyond the journalistic tone of most of the AEI publications. In these, I acknowledge the underlying, oft-unspoken deeper questions that need to be asked, about whether we have the right to be making so much noise in this world. These questions quickly lead to some murky territory (what about national defense? can we really forego offshore oil and gas deposits?), but pretending things are simple is probably not going to help us in these difficult times.

In the hope of spurring some deeper consideration, I offer these two new essays. They are not in totally final form (in this electronic age, editing is never "done"!), and so I welcome any comments you may have.