Characterization, understanding, and mitigation of underwater noise radiated by ships in the St. Lawrence Estuary

Abstract

Underwater noise generated by commercial traffic is the main source of anthropogenic noise pollution at low frequencies, increasingly present at a global scale and of critical interest in the St. Lawrence Estuary (eastern Canada), where a rich biodiversity meets the shipping corridor linking the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. The Marine Acoustic Research Station (MARS, www.projet-mars.ca/en) is an applied research project dedicated to characterizing, understanding, and mitigating underwater traffic noise, contributing to the global effort of improving cohabitation between human activities and marine life. A cutting edge marine acoustic observatory has been specifically designed to collect high-quality measurements of the underwater noise radiated by ships. It is deployed yearly since 2021, operating during the ice-free season. A database of over 2000 measurements representative of the underwater noise radiated by the fleet operating in the St Lawrence Estuary has been collected, with a demonstrated repeatability of less than 1.5 dB which confirms the ability of the observatory to effectively assess the efficiency of noise reduction measures. The MARS database supports the development of a noise prediction model and provides feedback to shipowners and relevant information regarding the St. Lawrence fleet to the government for future underwater vessel noise reduction targets.