SATURN - Solutions At Underwater Radiated Noise

Containership, harbour porpoise, Zoo-plankton, Sturgeons

Project data
Project leader:	Prof. Prof. h. c. Dr. Ursula Siebert
Chief scientist:	Dr. Joseph Schnitzler
Scientific staff:	Dr. Dominik Nachtsheim, Dr. Nina Maurer
Overall project coordination:	Gerry Sutton, MaREI, University College Cork
Project term:	February 2021- August 2025
Sponsorship:	EU

Project description

It is widely recognised that noise entering the underwater environment from shipping and other human activities can disturb and harm aquatic animals.

rotating ship propeller under water — Rotating ship propeller © MARIN

Studies have already shown these disturbance effects, while other research has suggested ways to reduce some of the noise generated by shipping. However, there are still gaps in our knowledge and understanding of how underwater noise can affect individual animals and entire populations.

This is now set to change with the SATURN consortium, which for the first time brings together leading European experts in bioacoustics, veterinary medicine, population biology, plus naval architecture and engineering in an EU-funded project.

Key issues include:
- Identifying sounds that are most harmful to aquatic species and how they are generated and propagated;
- What are the short-term and cumulative long-term negative effects of noise from ships and boats on aquatic species in rivers and the sea;
- What are the most promising options for measuring and reducing the negative impacts of ship noise that can be applied to current and future ships.

Prof. Prof. h. c. Dr. Ursula Siebert, Director of the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research at the TiHo, is the leader of the biological working group in this consortium, which investigates the influence of underwater noise on the behaviour, health and energy balance of aquatic organisms. Another important aspect supported by ITAW is public relations and communication.

SATURN_Research Newsletter_Issue2

SATURN-Results