Marine mammals and many fish can produce and perceive sound in the ocean. In an environment where vision is limited, hearing is one of the most important senses. These animals rely on sound for navigating, socializing, establishing dominance, attracting mates, avoiding predators, and finding food.
Using passive acoustic technologies, we study the behavior, movements and distribution of marine animals. We look at what sound can tell us about the marine environment through studying soundscapes in different areas. We evaluate the impacts of human-produced sounds to inform management, conservation, and education.
Since 2004, we have been deploying acoustic recorders on the ocean bottom to study underwater sounds. These recorders collect and store acoustic data for time periods ranging from several weeks to years. Our work is primarily focused on the Atlantic Ocean but we also work in many other waters internationally.
To view different acoustic deployments, visit our deployment map.
Explore our research to find out more about us:
- Fish & Invertebrate Acoustic Research
- Marine Mammal Acoustic Research
- Soundscapes and Ocean Noise Research
- Acoustic Technologies
- Collaborative Projects
Coming soon: Link to upload passive acoustic detection data. For more information, or interest in contributing data, contact nmfs.pacmdata@noaa.gov.
