Audio By Vocalize
Humpback whales around the Indian Ocean waters at the Coast.[File Standard]
The conflict in the Middle East has led to a surge in marine cargo traffic, with more ships rerouted to Mombasa and Lamu, according to the Kenya Ports Authority. While this brings economic benefits to Kenya and the region, it also exposes a significant but often overlooked environmental issue: Underwater ocean noise.
Many marine species depend on sound for survival. Whales, dolphins, fish, and invertebrates use acoustic signals to communicate, navigate, find food, locate mates, and avoid predators. When ship and industrial noise overwhelm these natural soundscapes, entire ecosystems get disrupted.
Underwater noise requires greater attention, especially in the Western Indian Ocean, which is one of the world’s most biologically diverse marine regions. Spanning Somalia to South Africa and including Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles, this area supports over 65 million people who rely one way or other on healthy oceans for their livelihoods.
