Category: Uncategorized

Imagine this: You walk into a grocery store and are immediately surrounded by colorful fruits and veggies, sounds of cash registers beeping, and the cool air of the AC. It’s not long before you catch grocery store fever and begin placing items in your cart that you don’t need or haven’t considered carefully. Carelessly purchasing your grocery foods can not only empty your wallet, but it can also determine the amount of suffering that animals have to go through to end up in your cart.

Milk

When buying dairy milk, there are some factors that you should consider. For example, labels like “organic” promise no GMO’s and “pasture-raised” means grazing time for cows. Restricted grazing has become commonplace for those in the dairy industry, so buying from a place that has pasture-raised cows is the way to go. Another more humane method of choosing milk is looking for a local milk producer who isn’t being controlled by an industry. This is also good because you can more easily communicate with them and ask questions about the treatment of their animals.

Fortunately, the sale of dairy milk has been on the decline in recent years. 

These charts provided by CNBC show that the gallons of milk consumed per capita has decreased by about 6 gallons from 2000 to 2015, and alternative milks have been on the rise. Alternative milks include nut milks like almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk and others such as oat milk and rice milk. Without the need for farming cows, non-dairy milks are obviously much more ethical. If you are concerned about the prices of alternatives because they have a reputation of being more expensive than cow’s milk, there is good news! Due to the declining demand of milk, prices have drastically increased for cow’s milk since 2018. This potentially means that more people are switching out dairy milk for alternative milk, and the demand may cause the substitute to become cheaper!

https://plantbasedonabudget.com/want-to-save-money-on-milk-purchase-non-dairy/

Eggs

Eggs are one of the more difficult things to choose when at the grocery store. There are so many different brands, colors, and labels that it may be difficult to sort through all of them. The first thing to take note of is if the eggs are cage free, free range, or pasture raised. To learn more about these terms read my post about it here! These labels ultimately determine how much space that the chickens receive. Pasture-raised is the safest bet as this means the chickens were able to roam in an open space, and they are probably healthier for you because of the seeds and insects the chickens consumed. Also, similarly to milk, looking for organic chicken eggs will ensure that the animals are not given hormones to affect their bodies in an unnatural way. Another thing to understand when purchasing eggs is that the color of the eggs, whether it be white or brown, does not matter in terms of health benefits or quality. In fact, the color of eggs purely depends on the breed of chicken that they are laid from. Therefore, you should only be looking for labels describing how the chickens were raised rather than basing your decisions off of color.

Meat

Of all of the food products, meat may be the most difficult one to find an ethical option for. Fortunately, the ASPCA has provided a list of logos to search for on chicken, beef, pork, turkey, and even dairy and eggs. You can research  ASPCA approved brands on this list. The Global Animal Partnership has also created different levels of ethicality, which you can read about more in my post here. This system rates products from 1 to 5, 1 being the least ethical and 5 being the most. 

However, these lists and systems should be utilized only when you really want meat. The best thing to do for the good of the animals is to try to cut down on your consumption of meat. If meat is something that will be difficult to cut out of your life, a more ethical option is consuming bison meat as opposed to other meats. Bison are not only more environmentally sustainable, but they are also less likely to be grain-fed and raised in factory farms. They are more well-protected by the government, and therefore are usually pasture-raised. 

Fish

Many people think fish is an ethical alternative to meat. However, fish, like land animals, feel pain and are commonly mistreated as you can read about in my post here. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, only one quarter of the world’s fish stocks are within safe environmental levels. That means that 75% of fish are suffering from harmful treatment. In order to combat this abuse, shoppers can demand fish from sustainably-harvested seafood companies. This puts pressure on seafood retailers and causes them to provide products that are ethically sourced. A good way to see if a seafood product is from a humane company is by checking to see if it is MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) approved. The MSC is an international charity dedicated to saving fish stocks. They consider the “condition of the fish stock, the impact of fishing on the marine ecosystem and the management of the fishery.” If a brand passes all of the tests that the MSC runs, then they will be rewarded with an MSC approved label. 

Other tips

If you are looking to cut down on your consumption of animal products, there are some tips that you should consider. First, you should make sure you do your research – this is the most important step of cutting back. You should find foods that can replace the meat that you would normally eat so that your body isn’t deprived of nutrients. Also, sudden change in diet may cause you to feel stress and begin a cycle of unhealthy eating habits. The last thing you want is to binge eat a bunch of meat after trying to completely abstain from it. A good tip that I learned is to try eating alternative meats to ease into the process and make you feel as if you are not completely taking it out of your diet. This process should be entered slowly to avoid depriving yourself. Removing animal products from your diet means taking a lot of fat and sodium out of your diet. This fat and sodium is what contributes to the irresistible taste of meat. However, you can find ways to ease into the process of getting rid of this, like using complex flavors of walnuts, avocadoes, pine nuts, etc. to bring flavor into your meals.

Currently, there are 41,415 animal species on the IUCN Red List, a list of threatened animal species, and 16,306 of them are at risk of extinction. The appalling decline of the many animal species has several underlying causes such as hunting, climate change, or habitat destruction. However, one that is less commonly known is traditional medicine. Around the world, but especially in eastern Asia, people use animals as remedies that usually don’t have verified evidence behind their results. Despite the lack of scientific evidence, bears, rhinos, elephants, and many other species are being hunted to “cure” a multitude of illnesses. 

For example moon bears, a native bear in Asia, are held captive, mostly in China, for their bile. People think of bear bile as a panacea for a number of conditions—from acne to conjunctivitis to even cancer. Moon bears are kept in bear bile farms where they live in small cages with extremely poor living conditions. Catheters are painfully inserted into the stomachs of these bears, allowing the workers to extract bile from their gallbladders. 

Since moon bears are a critically endangered species, some countries, like Vietnam, have made this practice illegal. However, China still allows bile farming to happen, even though there have been countless protests by Chinese civilians. According to Animals Asia, it’s estimated that more than 10,000 bears are suffering on Chinese bear bile farms and a further 1,000 in Vietnam, even with the illegalization. 

The reason why bile is harvested from these bears is because they contain ursodeoxycholic acid, or UCDA. UCDA is found in bear bile and helps improve liver functioning, but there are better alternatives to get this acid. 

Alternatives include synthetic compounds or artificial bear bile. The specific compound that is found exclusively in bear bile is TUDC, which has been detected in the artificial counterpart. A scientific study, “Substitutes for Bear Bile for the Treatment of Liver Diseases: Research Progress and Future Perspective,” 

 revealed that artificial and natural bear bile show no significant difference in efficacy, and that the content and stability of the active compounds are even higher in the artificial version. However, the challenge is not producing an ethical alternative, but convincing those who partake in bear bile farming to abandon their traditional methods. 

Similar cases of abusing animals for medicinal or cosmetic uses are common in many species. Some examples include rhinos for their horns, alligators for their meat, and musk deer for their glands—all using cruel methods to obtain a medicine that is  based off of tradition rather than evidence. In the case of the musk deer, 17,000 to 20,000 musk deer stags in Russia are killed every year, placing them on the list of endangered animals. The most concerning part of these killings is that some are being killed solely for their sweet-smelling musk glands, which are then used for perfume. Traditional medicine may hold a certain degree of truth, but there are a wide range of alternatives that are much more humane and equally as effective. In order to alleviate the abuse and cruelty that animals have to go through for their body parts, we need to improve access to education. When people rely on traditional methods, it is likely that it is a result of not understanding that there are cruelty-free alternatives with the same, or better, effectiveness. Therefore, spreading awareness and educating others can be the most efficient way of slowing the use of traditional medicine. Fortunately, some business people in China are striving to save endangered species. For example, NatGeo states that they have started government-sanctioned bear and tiger farms as a way to prevent poaching of them in the wild. By showing support and giving donations to activists such as these, we can reduce the unnecessary suffering that these animals have to go through.

The outbreak of the coronavirus is causing major panic throughout the world. Otherwise known as COVID-19, coronavirus attacks the respiratory system, causing fever, cough, and shortness of breath. It’s high rate of contagiousness is causing schools, airports, and stores to close. People are avoiding going outside to protect their own health, but should they be worried about their own pets as well?

On February 28, the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department released a statement announcing that a dog had contracted a low-level infection from its owner. However, it was undetermined by scientists on whether the pooch was actually infected or if it had only picked up traces of the virus from a contaminated surface. For now, South China Morning reports that the dog will now “remain under quarantine with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for further testing.”

Experts say that people should not be worried about their dogs and cats giving them the coronavirus. As an extra precaution, however, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention recommends that if you do contract the coronavirus, you should ask someone else to take care of your pet for the time being before they contract it themselves. The Pomeranian that had tested positive for coronavirus was reported to show no symptoms of the illness. Professor Vanessa Barrs of City University believes that the same conclusions made from the SARS outbreak regarding animals apply to the coronavirus in that dogs can contract infections, but will most likely not fall ill or infect other humans. 

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) reports to the Morning Post that they wish to remind the public that “there is no evidence that companion animals can transmit the disease to humans,” and therefore the public should not panic or go to the extent of abandoning their pets. The case of this Pomeranian, they stress, is a result of it being around a sick owner and picking up a low level infection from surfaces in the house. Scientists say there is evidence that pets will not spread the coronavirus, so people can continue safely cuddling with their four-legged friends.  

When looking at the treatment of animals from countries around the world, many different levels of ethicality can be found. For example, compared to most other countries, Austria takes the prize for being one of the best ones for animal welfare. This is largely due to the Austrian Animal Welfare Act 2004, which states that it is “unlawful to inflict unjustified pain, suffering or injury on an animal or expose it to heavy fear, as well as to kill animals without reason.” They also banned circus animals, fur farming, and the use of monkeys for testing in 2005. This act has saved a variety of animals from experiencing unnecessary cruelty or harm. In 2004, Austria was ahead of its time, and has now inspired other countries to follow its lead. Switzerland is another country that has taken the initiative to provide protection for animals not only in welfare, but in dignity as well. Activities that expose animals to pain, harm, or anxiety are illegal in their country. This allowed Switzerland to receive a Grade A in animal welfare from the World Animal Protection in 2014. Similarly, New Zealand passed an act requiring those who own animals to provide them with adequate food, shelter, and protection. They also included prohibitions against “[manipulation of] live animals for teaching purposes unless this is done in accordance with a code of ethical conduct approved by the Schools’ Animal Ethics Committee”.

According to Worldatlas, while Austria, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, and many other countries are among those with A’s and B’s in animal welfare, the United States sits in the D category. (The different grades that countries received can be viewed on this map.) What sets these countries apart is their ability to consider the morality of the condition that animals are living in, especially in the food department. For example, one reason for America’s low grade is that in the US, the treatment of farm animals raised for food are not regulated on a federal level. The anti-cruelty laws are instead left up to the states to decide. Without federal punishment as a consequence, many Americans don’t take animal welfare seriously. Animals are often abused, injected with hormones, or kept in cages for the purpose of simple convenience. In contrast, Europe has a European Convention for the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes. This is the parent legislation to the many farming directives recently enacted in the EU. It protects animals that are bred for the means of providing food, wool, fur, or farming purposes. For example, the caging of hens, veal calves, and pregnant sows were all banned in the EU in 1992 as a part of the convention, while they are still very common practices in the US. 

With countries in Europe advancing their legislation in accordance with animal welfare, the United States should look up to them in inspiration. Ignoring that animals can suffer and feel pain lowers our morality. Hopefully, America can follow the international trend and bump up our grade to an A. 

Try to  imagine a Doberman with droopy ears? How about a Corgi with a long wagging tail? Was it difficult for you to picture that?  It’s something that many people have never even considered, but the truth is they are born with these features. Popular trends amongst certain dog breeds are ear cropping and tail docking—otherwise known as cosmetic surgery. The purpose of these medical procedures are solely for the desirable, “fashionable” traits.

A Doberman in its natural states vs. one that has had its tail docked and ears cropped.

Dogs will usually get their ears cropped when they are only 8 to 12 weeks old. This age is vital to their mental development, and having such a procedure done can be psychologically damaging. There is a long and arduous process of taping and retaping a puppy’s ears to keep them standing straight up after the surgery. Tail docking is an equally painful process. At only a few days old, puppies get their tails cut off by veterinarians, sometimes even without anesthesia. Having tails is natural for dogs, as it is their form of expression and communication not only for other dogs, but for their owners as well. Ear cropping and tail docking are simply selfish measures that humans take to sacrifice their dog’s pain for desirable traits. 

Even though the American Veterinary Medical Association has outwardly stated that “these procedures cause pain and distress, and, as with all surgical procedures, are accompanied by inherent risks of anesthesia, blood loss, and infection,” restrictions are very rare. Maintaining those age-old images of pointed ears is popular in part due to  the dog pageants that ensure only dogs with these unnatural characteristics will be victorious. On the other hand, cosmetic surgeries have been banned across Australia and Great Britain. British kennel clubs outlawed ear-cropping a century ago, and cosmetic tail-docking was stopped the U.K. in 1993.

However, this practice is not always unethical. For farm animals such as sheeps, pigs, goats, and chickens, the removal of certain body parts are beneficial for their health. Sheep have long tails that are docked for the purpose of preventing fecal accumulation and fly strike—a lethal infection of fly larvae. Pigs get their tails curled and tusks removed so they do not tip each others tails or accidentally stab one another. Considering that the scent of blood may trigger pigs to attack, following such practices are very helpful for their health. In a similar sense, goats and cows get their horns removed so they can’t hurt each other or have them grow in a way that can cause infection. 

Therefore, surgeries involving the removal or altering of an animal’s body part should only be conducted if they cause benefit to that animal’s life. For example, spaying or neutering helps control pet behavior and prevents unwanted offspring from being born. On the other hand, If they are being used to achieve a “look” that people desire, then it should be deemed inhumane and restrictions must be implemented. Here, you can sign a petition that bans ear cropping and tail docking in dogs! Spreading awareness is the most efficient method of banning this unethical practice, so posting on Instagram or simply telling a friend can go a long way.

California signed a law in October 2019 stating that it will be illegal to sell, donate or manufacture new fur products in the state. This is a huge step for animal rights as it is the first state to make a law banning fur, and may eventually cause other states to follow in their footsteps. The legislation also mentions that those who violate the law are subject to civil penalties. Although the law is only going into effect on January 1st, 2023, it is still playing a huge role in eliminating cruelty across the US. 

This law is one of many in California that are fighting animal cruelty. In September 2018, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a landmark bill banning the sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals. The California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act prohibits manufacturers to “import for profit, sell, or offer for sale” any cosmetic product that was developed or made using an animal test, if the test occurs after the law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2020. Therefore, starting this year, any company that sells products that have been tested on animals will be fined $5,000. Cosmetic testing harms an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 animals every year, ranging from rabbits to birds to even monkeys. You can read more about the effects of cosmetic testing and ethical alternatives here. Many are hoping that this ban ultimately leads to a Humane Cosmetics Act on a federal level, and eventually at an international one. With technology constantly evolving, there are many alternatives that are available in place of animal testing. Legislation issued by the federal government will encourage manufacturers to switch over to these alternatives. The Humane Society has formatted ways to contact U.S. senators and representatives here, which will push the government to take action.

Not only has California banned fur and animal testing, but they have passed a ballot measure mandating more space for certain farm animals and banning the confinement of egg-laying hens in cages. Beginning this year, agricultural operations in California must provide egg-laying hens with at least 1 square foot of space per hen, and must provide at least 43 square feet of space for each calf raised as veal. By 2022, all products sold in California must meet their requirements, whether it be from in or out-of-state. 

The upcoming years are shining a spotlight on animal activism in California. Being the first state to create laws banning fur, animal testing, and cages for hens, California is  a role model for other states. By contacting local senators, you can be a part of the cruelty-free movement in your own state!

We always hear about how pets can be used to boost our moods. In fact, it is scientifically proven that stroking a dog or a cat can lower blood pressure, causing you to feel less anxious or stressed. According to a survey by the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute, 74 percent of pet owners have said that having a pet improved their mental health. Their ability to calm humans is one of the reasons service dogs work with people with mental disorders. 

But do you ever consider how your mood and energy level can impact your four-legged friend?

Imagine coming home from a tiring 8-hour shift. You had a terrible day at work and you just want to hide under your covers and go to sleep. But, your dog has been waiting hours on end for the moment you step through the door. Imagine the disappointment they feel when you step past them, completely ignoring them. 

A study conducted by the University of Porto revealed that “dog training methods which involve shouting and scolding your dog, can result in negative consequences later in life such as depression” By taking two dogs and training one with punishments and the other with rewards, the researchers found that punishment-based training caused more stress hormones to be found in the dog’s saliva. 

 Dogs, and even cats, are intelligent animals that can analyze behaviors of other animals—including humans. If exposed too frequently to the unpleasant dynamics of anger, your dog can become nervous, aggressive, hyperactive, or frightened, and there is no doubt that this can evolve into depression in the future. Depression is evident when the dog seems lethargic, begins eating less, and has no interest in playing.  Animals in zoos and aquariums often exhibit these behaviors, where the animals’ mental states depend on the attitude and actions of staff and visitors. By tapping on the glass or making loud noises, the animals can be aggravated such as this Silverback Gorilla who cracked the glass after a kid pounded the glass and his own chest. 

Therefore, it is vital to be mindful of your own behavior around animals, as it will affect theirs. If your dog is displaying signs of depression, there are ways to help them. After making sure that there is no physical health issue that is causing it, you can simply start by exercising your dog more and giving it more mental stimulation. Teaching them new tricks or introducing them to other dogs will promote a healthier mindset. If untreated, pet depression may develop into a serious physical condition where vets will have to prescribe medication. So, it is important to take preventative steps when your pet begins displaying signs of depression.

Interactive dog toys that entertain your pet while you’re away will be helpful for your dog.

Animals have been used as clothing since the beginning of time. But even now that there are so many animal-free alternatives, this trend has yet to cease, as many brands still kill for their luxurious products rather than find a cruelty-free alternative. For example, Canada Goose is well-known jacket brand that many people wear, especially high school and college students. These trendy jackets have been at the center of many protests, including a recent one at the Prudential Center Mall in Boston, MA. Edward Tyler, an animal rights activist, wants to “tell people they are wearing fur of either a coyote that died after it was caught in a leg hold trap, likely for days without food and water.” He goes on to say that the coyote’s offspring most likely died because their mother was busy trying to escape a leg trap. 

Does hunting coyotes lead to cubs dying without their mothers?

Trapping season is restricted to winter, and coyote pups are born in mid-to-late spring. Therefore, these two times should not interfere and leave pups defenseless without their mothers. That being said, coyotes are social creatures and the loss of any member of their pack will probably be felt no matter the season.

Are coyotes an invasive species that needs to be controlled?

Coyotes are a highly populated and invasive species that are not afraid of people. They kill farm animals and hunt a lot of game such as rabbits, deer, and turkeys. So, in order to control their population, hunting them may be the best option because at least, this way, they are being put into use. 

On the other hand, a creature causing harm doesn’t necessarily make it morally or ethically right to kill it. Moreover, the Humane Society wrote this article on why killing coyotes is not an effective method of population control and may actually make it worse. Basically, when coyotes are killed and their packs are broken up, the lone coyotes are more likely to mate, rather than be a non-mating member of a cohesive pack.

Are coyotes left for days in painful or inhumane traps?

According to this Newsweek article, in most states, the standard is that traps must be checked every 24 hours (but that standard only needs to be met 80% of the time). Canada Goose says they get coyote fur ethically, “in accordance with the Agreement of International Humane Trapping Standards in Canada and the Best Management Practices in the United States.” The Agreement of International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS) was signed by the EU, Russia, and Canada and established in 1997 to set a standard for trapping wild animals. The AIHTS is an agreement to develop and use only humane traps, and intended to get rid of all leg-holding traps. Currently, the steel jaw leg hold trap is banned, but barely altered ones  with rubber casings are still in use and can be very painful and puncture skin or break bones. However, according to the agreement, 80% of animals must “not show any signs of poor welfare”. This means that the animal doesn’t show any signs of severe injuries such as haemorrhages or amputation from the trap. This is difficult to accomplish, so the ethicality of the agreement is questionable.

Are geese killed for their down?

Canada Goose has said that they only use down from geese that have already been killed for meat production. They do not use down from geese that have undergone the inhumane practice of live plucking, where geese are held down while their feathers are violently plucked from their skin, and after they are completely plucked, left until their feathers grow in before being plucked them again, in a long and painful cycle. 

Is faux fur worse for the environment? 

According to the Wall Street Journal, in 2018, the fur industry launched a major campaign about the environmental impact of faux fur. So keep in mind where this idea comes from—but it is true that fur is biodegradable and faux fur is not.

Here’s the truth: faux fur is made out of made from synthetic polymeric fibers such as acrylic, modacrylic, and/or polyester. These are all different types of plastic, which is already a bad sign in terms of evaluating environmental impact. Plastic is made from different sources like coal, water, air, and the non-renewable source: petroleum. As I have mentioned here, plastic is highly detrimental to the Earth and its oceans. It is not biodegradable, as it takes thousands of years to degrade, and its production adds to pollution in the air. Therefore, although real fur may be inhumane, it may be better for the environment

Ethical Alternatives

However, there is an alternative called Eiderdown, which are feathers collected from the wild eider duck of Iceland. This down is plucked from the female’s breasts or gathered from the nest lining, where the soft feathers protect the young birds from the Arctic cold. Additionally, Eiderdown is only collected after the chicks have already left the nest. Companies that choose this method of gathering down feathers are being more considerate about avoiding animal cruelty.

Many students may not be aware of the harm they are causing by simply buying a warm jacket for the winter. But Canada Goose and companies like them torture and kill many animals for their fur, and it must be brought to buyers’ attention. Fortunately, Canada Goose was able to create fur-free parkas in response to the outcries of animal rights advocates. However, these coats still include goose down. From fur to leather to feathers, many animals suffer for human fashion statements. There are man-made substitutes for all kinds of animal fashion products, meaning that there is no longer any need to spend excess money on a product that kills. Not only should you stop wearing animal products, but pressuring big companies like Canada Goose to reduce their harsh treatment of animals can make a huge difference. In the past, Gucci, Michael Kors, and many other fashion brands have come out as fur-free. By signing petitions like these, you can convince Canada Goose to follow in their footsteps.

A video went viral in late November of a woman saving a struggling koala from a burning forest in Australia. The koala was seen with bleeding paws and was crying out in pain and fear while being rescued. The video is heartbreaking, yet that story is just one of hundreds. Australian fires are ripping through koala colonies, killing koalas and destroying habitats in their path. Koalas have already been listed as a “vulnerable species under federal environment law in the states of Queensland and New South Wales,” yet some argue them to be even functionally extinct. Either way, with the added damage of these bushfires, the koala population is suffering great losses. One thousand koalas are estimated to have died from the fires and nearly 80% of their habitat destroyed.

Bush fire at Captain Creek central, Queensland, Australia, where koalas are

listed as a vulnerable species.

The fires alone are enough to cause damage to koalas, however, there are also periods drought both prior to and after these bushfires. This causes a long and arduous recovery that may prevent the population from  returning to normal. Scientists fear that koalas may be facing extinction by 2050 if these fires continue, which is extremely upsetting news for lovers of this Australian marsupial. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to relieve the disastrous effects of the fires without actually having to physically rescue a koala from a burning forest. You can donate to wildlife hospitals, where they are taking in dozens of koalas to treat the burns on their hands and feet.

A koala receiving treatment in Port Macquarie Koala Hospital after being rescued

from a bushfire, SAEED KHAN, AFP via Getty Images

There have also been GoFundMe campaigns that are using the money to help save the koalas. For example, this page has a goal of $25,000 that will be used to build automatic drinking stations to help any wildlife stay hydrated. This will not only help the koalas, but any species that are suffering from the fires. Good Morning America also shares that the funds will extend to creating a project that will form a wild breeding program to recover the koala population. 

By spreading awareness of what is happening in Australia, people will feel motivated to help. Simply telling the story or sharing a video may create a huge difference for the future of koalas. 

Noise pollution is the harmful levels of noise that result from things like industry and airplanes. It is currently occurring underwater, and is proving harmful to marine life. 

There are three main causes of ocean noise pollution: 

1. General shipping traffic

Ships and boats used for shipping purposes are known to cause a lot of noise. The propellers and other machinery generate a noise called cavitation: noise that occurs at propeller blade tips. This noise is produced when rotating blades cause the local pressure in water to drop below a critical value and bubbles to form. Most of the noise is low-frequency, which travels long distances underwater. 

1. The oil industry

For offshore drilling, pressurized air guns are used by ships to form a three-dimensional map of where oil and gas most likely lie. The noise that is produced is extremely loud to allow the waves to penetrate the deep levels of the ocean and bounce off the seafloor. They are said to cause “[impairment of] animals’ hearing, brain hemorrhaging and the drowning out of communication sounds important for survival, possibly killing certain species. 

1. Military activity

The US Navy has been using rail guns—a kinetic energy weapon used to fire projectiles at targets in the sea or in the air. The models that the Navy has produced estimates temporary and permanent hearing loss for thousands of marine animals. There have been incidents in the past that link dead animals with military experiments such as in Greece, where over a dozen dolphins washed up ashore near massive Turkish naval exercises in the area. Similarly to the air guns, the sonar from rain guns interfere with the animals’ means of communication. Scientists also fear that the noise will change the animals’ behavior and their ability to hear in certain ranges. The Navy has also recently submitted a request for a permit to “incidentally harass” marine animals as collateral damage.

Fortunately, there have been measures taken to fight against ocean noise pollution. In 2016, the federal government introduced an outline of a ten-year strategy called the Ocean Noise Strategy Roadmap to reduce the harmful impacts of noise on marine animals. 

There have also been recent wins such as a coalition of environmental groups that have filed suit against the National Marine Fisheries Service, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, claiming that the agency is violating several federal laws protecting wildlife, including the Endangered Species Act, by allowing the blasts. Several governors have also teamed up to create laws to regulate offshore drilling. Another area where action is taking place is in gulf, where there are plans to create a major international port to improve transport routes to Asia. To combat the problems that will be caused for marine species such as the humpback whale, “researchers are becoming acoustic prospectors”, and are “searching for quiet zones and noisy habitats in efforts to chronicle what exactly happens when sound levels change.” Efforts range from natural experiments on the effects of a plan to reroute shipping lanes in the Baltic Sea, to investigating the impact of a trial scheme in Canada to reduce ship speeds in coastal waters off Vancouver.

Last month, there was widespread backlash to the Navy’s recent plans to carry out drills and research with underwater guns and explosives in the Pacific Northwest, which would lead to major harm for many marine animals. Organizations like the Washington Environmental Council prepared petitions, the mayor of Seattle filed a letter of protest, and many citizens provided comments to the navy to urge them to maintain peaceful and quiet waters for the animals. 

Although we are still far from the goal of silent waters, research on noise pollution has been expanding. Much is being done in an effort to understand the struggles that marine animals are facing, and this will help lead to action.