QUIETSEAS: Assisting (sub) regional cooperation for the practical implementation of the MSFD second cycle by providing methods and tools for D11 (underwater noise) (2021-2023)

QUIETSEAS is a project funded by the DG Environment of the European Commission within the call “DG ENV/MSFD 2020”). This call funds the next phase of Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) implementation.

The QUIETSEAS project aims to support Member States (MS) Competent Authorities for the practical development of the MSFD through assisting (sub) regional cooperation by providing methods and tools for underwater noise (D11) assessment and management. This project is built on the work developed by the QUIETMED (2017-2019) and QUIETMED2 (2019-2021) projects, funded in previous MSFD calls.

Main objectives of this project are oriented to enable progress towards the risk of impact assessment of underwater noise on biodiversity and facilitate the implementation of coordinated mitigation measures in order to attain the Good Environmental Status (GES).

Practical outcomes will be produced by providing guidance for GES assessment through i) identifying specific impact indicators (for sensitive species-marine mammals) and enable anthropogenic continuous sound risk-based assessment, ii) providing common methodologies to facilitate the implementation of assessment frameworks and setting threshold values for continuous sound and iii) delivering tools for effective risk-based management of anthropogenic impulsive (D11C1) and continuous sound (D11C2).

Under a wide scope, the QUIETSEAS project will consider particularities for the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea regions, continuing the cooperation already established, not only at EU regional and subregional level, but also with no European Countries in the context of the Barcelona Convention. The QUIETSEAS project aims to boost this cooperation through iv) assessing the effectiveness of potential coordinated measures to reduce the pressure caused by maritime traffic and v) building capacities to ensure knowledge transfer.

The QUIETSEAS project is coordinated by the Marine Technology Centre in Spain (CTN). The consortium is made up of 10 entities, including relevant actors of the Common Implementation Strategy (TG Noise), Regional Sea Conventions (Barcelona - UNEP/MAP, OSPAR), and Competent Authorities. ACCOBAMS (Monaco), SHOM (France), HCMR (Greece), POLIMI (Italy), IZVRS (Slovenia), SPA/RAC (Tunisia), MHD (Romania), DHM (Cyprus), and ICES (Denmark) set up this team.

For more information, see https://quietseas.eu/.

Status

IQOE is in its 8th year as a 10-year project and continues to implement of its Science Plan (available here). IQOE has successfully coordinated a variety of activities in ocean acoustics and bioacoustics through IQOE working groups on the use of acoustics to assess biodiversity, the importance of acoustic observations in the Arctic Ocean, standards for reporting ocean acoustic and bioacoustic data for IQOE, software for making acoustic observations comparable worldwide, and recommendations for implementation of an Ocean Sound Essential Ocean Variable for the Global Ocean Observing System. IQOE progress has been documented since June 2018 through IQOE Newsletters and since the beginning of the project through other products. IQOE identified 2020 as the Year of the Quiet Ocean because of evidence that ocean sound decreased because of decreases in human activities in the ocean due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Next Steps

Activities in 2024 will include actions to help implement the Ocean Sound Essential Ocean Variable Implementation Plan; continuation of new activities on low-cost ocean acoustic observing systems and expansion of the Open Portal to Underwater Sound (OPUS), implementation of the Global Library of Underwater Biological Sounds, sponsorship of the second World Ocean Passive Acoustic Monitoring Day; and meetings of IQOE working groups and Science Committee.