Underwater noise pollution in the North Sea is increasing, mainly due to commercial shipping and offshore activities. This trend is expected to continue in the coming decades. Many marine species rely on sound for communication, navigation, and survival. Rising noise levels are therefore a growing environmental concern. To support policy action, DEMASK has published a comprehensive policy brief that outlines the current challenges and provides recommendations to improve underwater noise management at the regional and international level.
From knowledge to action
Thanks to international cooperation over the past decade, much is now known about underwater noise levels in the North Sea. Previous projects such as EU-Interreg North Sea JOMOPANS have shown that man-made noise frequently exceeds natural background levels by 20 dB or more, sometimes 100% of the time in heavily trafficked areas like the Southern North Sea. With further expansion of shipping and offshore wind energy, pressure on the marine environment is expected to intensify. This calls for well-coordinated, effective noise mitigation strategies.
DEMASK builds on this foundation by bringing together policymakers, scientists, NGOs and industry to identify workable solutions. The project will develop and test scenarios to reduce underwater noise and assess their ecological impact. The goal is to enable evidence-based policy decisions that are aligned with international obligations, such as the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the OSPAR Convention, and the recent IMO guidelines on ship noise reduction.
What needs to happen?
The policy brief highlights three major sources of underwater noise: commercial shipping, offshore wind operations, and recreational vessels. While shipping remains the dominant source, other contributors, such as service vessels for wind farms, also require attention. For each of these sources, DEMASK will develop realistic policy scenarios, including:
- Ship speed reductions and rerouting
- Quiet ship technologies and class notations
- Noise limits in sensitive marine areas
- Integrated planning through marine spatial planning
In addition, DEMASK will explore how efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (such as energy efficiency measures in shipping) interact with underwater noise. Some measures may offer environmental co-benefits, while others could lead to trade-offs.
Providing tools and insights
To support better decision-making, DEMASK is developing tools to quantify noise levels under different scenarios. These range from detailed modelling of individual shipping lanes to large-scale sound maps of the North Sea. Different policy-relevant noise metrics will be tested to support international consistency and comparability. The project also aims to provide clarity on which indicators and thresholds are most useful to assess progress towards Good Environmental Status (GES).
Strengthening transnational and transdisciplinary cooperation
Ultimately, effective underwater noise management requires transnational cooperation. Through scenario development, stakeholder engagement and technical innovation, DEMASK contributes to shaping future policy. The policy brief is a first step in this direction: it summarises the main issues, connects them to real-world policy needs, and sets the agenda for science-based, collaborative solutions.
Check out the full policy brief to learn how DEMASK connects science, policy and practise for a quieter North Sea.
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