Powerful international coalition to combat underwater noise launched at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice
Panama, Canada, and 35 other countries commit to tackling underwater noise pollution to protect marine life.
JOINT PRESS RELEASE – 10 June 2025
Powerful international coalition to tackle underwater noise launched at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice
- Panama and Canada lead 37 countries have launched the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, the first global political coalition dedicated to reducing harmful underwater noise pollution at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice.
- The Coalition brings together governments, Indigenous communities, shipping industry leaders and environmental NGOs to tackle ocean noise – which disrupts marine life's ability to communicate, navigate and survive.
- Ministers signed a Declaration committing to advance quieter ship design, integrate noise reduction into marine protected areas, and support capacity-building through science-based solutions that also cut carbon emissions.
At a landmark event during the 3rd UN Ocean Conference, Ministers from Panama and Canada – along with leaders from 35 other countries as well as the European Union as a whole – officially launched the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, the first global political coalition dedicated to reducing harmful ocean noise pollution. Ministers from around the world gathered in Nice, France, to sign the Coalition’s Declaration, which outlines a shared commitment to mitigate the growing threat of underwater noise and reduce impacts to marine life.
“Too often, the issue of ocean noise has been sidelined in global environmental discourse,” said the Honorable Juan Carlos Navarro, Minister of Environment for Panama. “With this Coalition, we are committing to act decisively to protect marine biodiversity from this invisible yet powerful threat.”
The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Canada’s Ambassador to France and Monaco, on behalf of the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, emphasized the urgency of collective action: “Ocean noise is a global issue that requires ambitious global cooperation. Through this Coalition, we are demonstrating Canada’s commitment to international leadership on ocean conservation and inviting our partners to join us in restoring a quieter, healthier ocean for future generations—while supporting sustainable economic activity.”
The Coalition launch was attended by leaders from Indigenous communities, the shipping industry, intergovernmental bodies, and environmental NGOs, reflecting a growing international consensus that ocean noise must be addressed to meet global biodiversity and climate goals.“
The Ocean is an acoustic world where sound means survival—marine life depends on it to communicate, navigate, and find food,” stressed Carlos Bravo, Ocean Policy Expert at OceanCare. “Human noise pollution is drowning out these vital sounds, but the solution is within our grasp. We have cost-effective measures that can immediately cut both underwater noise and carbon emissions. The High Ambition Coalition represents hope—a crucial step towards giving marine life back their voice in the blue planet's symphony.”
“The maritime sector recognises that underwater noise from shipping poses an environmental challenge that we must work together to solve. Innovations in ship design, operational practices and routing strategies can reduce our acoustic footprint. But not only that, these measures can help the shipping industry increase efficiency and cut greenhouse gas emissions. The launch of the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean is an important step toward aligning industry and governments around practical, science-based solutions that support both sustainable shipping and healthy oceans,” said Dr. Bev Mackenzie, Head of Intergovernmental Affairs from BIMCO, a major shipping industry trade organization.
The Coalition’s Declaration outlines an ambitious agenda, including:
- Advancing quieter ship design and operations through the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
- Taking noise reduction measures into account in the creation and management of marine protected areas.
- Implementing solutions to reduce vessel noise and other shipping-related impacts on sensitive marine wildlife.
- Supporting capacity-building through shared tools and technologies, such as those from the IMO’s GloNoise Partnership.
The launch of the Coalition underscores the growing international resolve to tackle ocean noise pollution as a key threat to marine biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Underwater noise pollution from multiple sources – particularly the continuous noise from commercial shipping – negatively impacts marine life, interfering with their ability to communicate, navigate and hunt, threatening marine biodiversity at a planetary scale.
ENDS
Media contact
- Dániel Fehér, Policy Communication Lead, OceanCare: +49 176 81434026; dfeher@oceancare.org
Further information
- Website of the High Ambition Coalition launch event
- Website of the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean
About OceanCare
OceanCare is an international marine conservation non-governmental organisation, founded in Switzerland in 1989. The organisation pursues the protection and restoration of the marine environment and marine wildlife with a strong policy focus, combining research, conservation projects and education. OceanCare’s remit includes marine pollution, climate change, marine mammal hunting and the environmental consequences of fisheries. Its work is supported by a team of scientific, legal and policy experts, and involves strategic collaboration with civil society organisations and coalitions around the world. OceanCare is an officially accredited partner and observer to several UN conventions and other international fora. www.oceancare.org --
OceanCare Dániel Fehér, Policy Communication Lead Gerbestrasse 6 CH-8820 Waedenswil - Switzerland +49 176 81434026 dfeher@oceancare.org www.oceancare.org