Human Noise Pollution in Ocean Can Lead Fish Away from Good Habitats and Off to Their Death

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100803212015.htm
                According to this article, “ the growing amount of human noise pollution in the ocean could lead fish away from good habitat and off to their death.” It says that starting from the time the fish are born and after weeks of developing in the sea, the baby reef fish rely on natural noises made by fish, shrimps, and sea urchins as a cue to find the coral reefs. This is where they can survive and be able to grow well. With the human noise pollution, it makes the fish become attracted to inappropriate noises with “small boats, shipping, drilling, pile driving, and seismic testing” which sometimes drown out the natural noises of the fish, shrimps, and sea urchins. Researchers are now worried that this crucial behavior is causing harm and possibly high death rates for the baby reef fish if they get attracted towards the wrong sounds, which can lead them into danger. The researchers also tried an experiment which shows that the baby reef fish can learn a new sound and remember it within a few hours. The human noise pollution can really mess up their recognition on natural noises on the most important night of their lives. After that night, it will be able to know what sound it is suppose to follow and if it’s the wrong sound, which they wouldn’t know, then it’s off to their death since “they could end up stuck next to a construction site or follow a ship back out to sea.” Over the years, these noisy environments have increased drastically, which “could have devastating impacts on success of populations and the replenishment of future fish stocks.”


                This article relates to science/biology concepts since it talks about how the baby reef fish in the sea are getting affected by the human noise pollution. It tells us how it can lead to their death if they recognize the human noise pollution instead of the natural noises from fish, shrimps, and sea urchin. If only the human noise pollution can be reduce as time goes on, then it wouldn’t be such a big problem to the population of baby reef fish. Since over the years, these noisy environments have increased dramatically, it means that their death rates are increasing as well.

                This information was put in the newspaper because we care about the survival of the baby reef fish. We are the one who are causing this devastating affect on them. Since they are baby fish, they can’t tell between the right and wrong sounds. With our human noise pollution going on, it’s making it harder for them to distinguish. We feel horrible about this situation, but hopefully the human noise pollution can be reduced.