DEMASK evaluates measures to reduce environmental impact of underwater noise

The EU project DEMASK brings together researchers, authorities and maritime stakeholders from countries around the North Sea to develop recommendations for managing underwater noise.

Underwater noise in the oceans is a growing and still relatively unmanaged environmental problem. The North Sea is one of the world's busiest shipping areas, with many recreational boats along its coasts (not least Sweden's) and where several countries want to increase their energy production from offshore wind power. All this generates underwater noise that risks adversely affecting wildlife and the environment. Despite this, effective measures to reduce noise are lacking.

DEMASK is developing tools to measure and evaluate measures to reduce the environmental impact of underwater noise. The project develops scenarios for how noise levels are affected by different measures that decision-makers and other stakeholders can use to evaluate the most effective measures.

IVL focuses mainly on recreational boats in coastal areas and how they affect the animals that live there. This is particularly important for Sweden, which has a long coastline and many recreational boats in these sensitive areas. We are determining the effects on invertebrates, which are currently little known and therefore often not considered when assessing underwater noise's environmental impact.

DEMASK is carried out in collaboration with nine partners from four countries and is funded in part by the EU's Interreg North Sea Programme. Read more on the DEMASK website. External link, opens in new window.