[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:01.38,0:00:04.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the sound of orcas\Noff the coast of Vancouver.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.33,0:00:10.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Whale chirps and squeaks)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.42,0:00:14.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They make these fantastic sounds\Nnot just to communicate,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.33,0:00:16.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but also sometimes to echolocate,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.50,0:00:18.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to find their way around and to find food.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.42,0:00:21.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that can be tricky sometimes,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.08,0:00:24.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because, well, here is the sound\Nof a ship passing by,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.38,0:00:25.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,recorded underwater.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.96,0:00:31.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Screeching oscillating sound)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.45,0:00:34.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, when we think\Nabout marine pollution,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.67,0:00:36.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think we usually think about plastics.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.71,0:00:38.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe toxic chemicals,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.33,0:00:41.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or even ocean acidification\Nfrom climate change.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.46,0:00:44.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As a science journalist who often writes\Nabout environmental issues,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.92,0:00:47.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,those are the things\Nthat have passed my desk
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.08,0:00:49.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over the past 10 years or so.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.08,0:00:50.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as I recently realized
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.38,0:00:53.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I was writing a feature\Nfor the science journal "Nature,"
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.46,0:00:56.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,noise is another\Nimportant kind of pollution.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.75,0:00:58.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One that often gets ignored.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.38,0:01:02.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, maybe you've heard\Nof the dark-skies movement,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.42,0:01:05.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which aimed to raise awareness\Nof the issue of light pollution
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.92,0:01:08.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and create pockets of unilluminated night,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.62,0:01:10.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that people and animals
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.54,0:01:15.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could enjoy more natural cycles\Nof light and dark, night and day.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.75,0:01:17.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, in much the same way,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.08,0:01:18.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there are people now raising awareness
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.96,0:01:20.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the issue of noise pollution
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.54,0:01:23.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and trying to create\Npockets of quiet in the ocean,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.75,0:01:27.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that marine life can enjoy\Na more natural soundscape.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.50,0:01:29.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is important.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.83,0:01:32.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Noise isn't just an irritation.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.42,0:01:34.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It can cause chronic stress,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.54,0:01:36.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or even physical injury.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.29,0:01:39.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It can affect marine life's ability\Nto find food and mates
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.75,0:01:42.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to listen out for predators and more.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.79,0:01:47.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Think of all the sounds\Nwe inject into the ocean.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.04,0:01:49.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Perhaps one of the most dramatic\Nis the seismic surveys
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.96,0:01:52.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,used to look for oil and gas.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.46,0:01:54.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Air guns produce loud blasts,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.71,0:01:57.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sometimes every 10 to 15 seconds,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.17,0:01:58.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for months on end.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.75,0:02:00.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they use the reflections\Nof these sounds
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.83,0:02:02.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to map the ground beneath.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.58,0:02:04.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It can sound like this.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.92,0:02:10.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Explosion sounds)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.88,0:02:15.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then, there's the sound\Nof the actual drilling for oil and gas,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.21,0:02:18.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the construction of things\Nlike offshore wind farms,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.42,0:02:19.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sonar
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.71,0:02:23.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and of course, the nearly constant drone\Nfrom more than 50,000 ships
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.75,0:02:25.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the global merchant fleet.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.79,0:02:29.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now the natural ocean itself\Nisn't exactly quiet.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.29,0:02:31.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you put your head under the water,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.08,0:02:34.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can hear cracking ice, wind, rain,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.67,0:02:36.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,singing whales, grunting fish,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.79,0:02:38.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even snapping shrimp.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.71,0:02:40.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Altogether, that can create a soundscape
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.75,0:02:42.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of maybe 50 to 100 decibels,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.88,0:02:45.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,depending on where and when you are.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.83,0:02:48.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But mankind's addition to that\Nhas been dramatic.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.62,0:02:53.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's estimated that shipping has added\Nthree decibels of noise to the ocean
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.12,0:02:55.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every 10 years in recent decades.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.00,0:02:57.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That might not sound like a lot,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.58,0:02:59.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but decibels are on a logarithmic scale,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.75,0:03:01.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like the Richter scale for earthquakes.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.67,0:03:05.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So a small number can actually\Nrepresent a large change.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.33,0:03:09.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Three decibels means a doubling\Nof noise intensity in the ocean.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.71,0:03:10.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A doubling.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.75,0:03:13.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's only an estimate,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.17,0:03:16.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because no one is actually keeping track\Nof how noisy the ocean is
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.33,0:03:18.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all around the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.25,0:03:22.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is a body called\Nthe International Quiet Ocean Experiment,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.33,0:03:23.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and one of their missions
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.62,0:03:26.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is to try and plug the hole in that data.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.54,0:03:28.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So for example, last year,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.83,0:03:32.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they managed to convince\Nthe Global Ocean Observation System
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.33,0:03:33.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to start including noise
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.62,0:03:36.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as one of their essential\Nvariables for monitoring,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.21,0:03:39.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,alongside things\Nlike temperature and salinity.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.21,0:03:41.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We do know some things.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.50,0:03:45.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know that sonar can be as loud,\Nor nearly as loud,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.12,0:03:46.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as an underwater volcano.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.00,0:03:51.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A supertanker can be as loud\Nas the call of a blue whale.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.21,0:03:54.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The noises we add to the ocean\Ncome in all different frequencies
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.29,0:03:56.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and can travel great distances.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.38,0:03:59.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Seismic surveys off the East Coast\Nof the United States
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.42,0:04:02.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can be heard in the middle\Nof the Atlantic.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.79,0:04:04.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the 1960s, they did an experiment
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.79,0:04:08.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where they set off a loud noise\Noff the coast of Perth, Australia,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.04,0:04:10.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they detected it\Nas far away as Bermuda,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.50,0:04:13.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,20,000 kilometers away.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.92,0:04:18.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what does all this\Nsound like to marine life,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.42,0:04:19.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what do they hear?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.71,0:04:21.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's kind of difficult to describe.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.46,0:04:24.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sound travels further, faster in water\Nthan it does in air,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.67,0:04:27.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it also packs a different punch.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.25,0:04:30.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So sound of the same pressure\Nwill have a different intensity
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.42,0:04:33.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether you measure it\Nin the air or underwater.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.92,0:04:38.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then there's the fact that whales\Ndon't have ears exactly like human ears.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.12,0:04:39.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Creatures like zooplankton
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.58,0:04:43.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't even have what you would\Nconsider to be ears.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.12,0:04:44.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what does this mean,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.42,0:04:47.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what is the impact\Non all this marine life?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.04,0:04:50.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Perhaps the easiest thing\Nfor scientists to assess
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.42,0:04:51.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the effect of acute noise,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.96,0:04:53.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,really loud sudden blasts
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.88,0:04:56.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that might cause physical injury\Nor hearing loss.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.46,0:05:00.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Beaked whales, for example,\Ncan go into panicked dives
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.92,0:05:02.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when exposed to loud noises,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.75,0:05:06.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which may even give them\Na condition similar to the bends.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.17,0:05:11.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the 1960s, after the introduction\Nof more powerful sonar technologies,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.54,0:05:15.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the number of incidents of mass\Nwhale strandings of beaked whales
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.46,0:05:16.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,went up dramatically.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.83,0:05:19.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's not just marine mammals,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.62,0:05:23.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fish, if they stray too close\Nto the source of a loud sound,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.92,0:05:27.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their fish bladders may actually explode.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.21,0:05:29.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The airgun blasts from seismic surveys
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.29,0:05:32.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can mow down a swath of zooplankton,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.04,0:05:34.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the tiny creatures near the base\Nof the food chain,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.71,0:05:37.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or can deform scallop larvae\Nwhile they're developing.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.42,0:05:41.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, what about chronic noise,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.54,0:05:44.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the more pervasive issue\Nof raising background noise
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.29,0:05:45.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from things like shipping?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.79,0:05:49.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That can mask or drown out\Nthe natural soundscape.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.67,0:05:53.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some whales have responded to this\Nby literally changing their tune,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.38,0:05:57.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a little bit like people\Nshouting to be heard in a noisy nightclub.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.79,0:06:01.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And some fish will spend more time\Npatrolling their borders
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.54,0:06:03.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and less time caring for their young,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.88,0:06:05.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as if they're on high alert.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.75,0:06:11.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Chronic noise can affect\Npeople too, of course.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.21,0:06:14.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Studies have shown\Nthat people living near busy airports
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.08,0:06:15.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or really busy highways
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.62,0:06:18.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,may have elevated levels\Nof cardiovascular disease.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.92,0:06:21.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And students living\Nunder busy flight paths
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.33,0:06:24.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,may do worse on some educational tests.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.25,0:06:27.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And even while I was\Nresearching this subject,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.21,0:06:30.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they were actually blasting out\Nabout three meters of solid granite
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.38,0:06:32.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the lot across from my home office
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.79,0:06:34.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to make room for a new house,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.42,0:06:36.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the constant jittering\Nof the rock hammer
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.71,0:06:39.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was driving me completely insane.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.46,0:06:42.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And whenever the workers\Nstopped for a moment,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.04,0:06:44.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I could feel my shoulders relax.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:45.25,0:06:48.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This effect has been seen in whales, too.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.17,0:06:50.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After the terrorist attacks of 9/11,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.79,0:06:53.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,international shipping largely\Nground to a halt for a little while
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.00,0:06:57.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the waters off the East Coast\Nof the United States.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.08,0:06:58.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in that lull,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.38,0:07:01.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,researchers noticed that endangered\Nright whales in that region
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.67,0:07:05.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had fewer chemical markers of stress\Nin their feces samples.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.33,0:07:08.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As one researcher I spoke to likes to say,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.92,0:07:11.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"We were stressed,\Nbut the whales weren't."
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.50,0:07:14.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now you have to remember,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.79,0:07:17.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we have evolved to be a visual species.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.04,0:07:19.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We really rely on our eyes.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.29,0:07:21.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But marine life relies on sound
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.46,0:07:23.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the way that we rely on sight.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.46,0:07:27.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For them, a noisy ocean
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.83,0:07:31.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,may be as befuddling and even dangerous
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.29,0:07:33.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a dense fog is for us.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.62,0:07:38.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And maybe sometimes that just means\Nbeing a little more stressed,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.25,0:07:41.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe sometimes it means\Nspending a little less time with the kids.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.46,0:07:43.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe some species can adapt.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.88,0:07:46.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But some researchers worry\Nthat for endangered species
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.62,0:07:48.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,already on the brink,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.04,0:07:50.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,noise may be enough\Nto push them over the edge.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.92,0:07:54.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So take, for example,\Nthe southern resident killer whales
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.67,0:07:57.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that live in the waters\Noff my hometown of Vancouver.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.58,0:08:00.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are only 75, maybe 76, animals left
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.96,0:08:02.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in this population.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.50,0:08:04.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they're facing a lot of challenges.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.92,0:08:07.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are chemical pollutants\Nin these waters,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.46,0:08:11.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they are running low on the salmon\Nthat they really rely on for food.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.75,0:08:13.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then there's noise.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.42,0:08:16.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When researchers studied these\Nand similar killer whales,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.17,0:08:20.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they found that they spend\Nbetween 18 and 25 percent less time
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.38,0:08:23.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feeding in the presence\Nof loud boat noise.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.46,0:08:26.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's a lot for a species\Nthat's already struggling
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.38,0:08:28.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to find enough food to thrive.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.58,0:08:32.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The good news, as I heard\Nfrom all the researchers I spoke to,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.00,0:08:36.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that you can do something\Nrelatively easily about ocean noise.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.00,0:08:39.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Unlike the wicked problems\Nof climate change
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.71,0:08:41.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and ocean acidification,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.33,0:08:43.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can just dial down\Nthe knob on ocean noise
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.00,0:08:46.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and see almost immediate impacts.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.25,0:08:49.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So for example, in 2017,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.75,0:08:52.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.12,0:08:54.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,started asking ships to simply slow down
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.79,0:08:56.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when going through the Haro Strait,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.71,0:09:00.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where the southern resident killer whales\Nare feeding in late summer.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.29,0:09:02.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Slower ships are quieter ships.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.88,0:09:05.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And because it's Canada, you can just ask,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.17,0:09:06.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it can be voluntary.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.46,0:09:07.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.75,0:09:12.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.67,0:09:15.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In that 2017 trial,\Nmost of the ships complied,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.79,0:09:18.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,adding about half an hour\Nto their travel time,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.04,0:09:20.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and reducing noise by about 1.2 decibels
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.83,0:09:23.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or 24 percent of noise intensity.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.88,0:09:26.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This year, they decided\Nto extend the length of time
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.67,0:09:29.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the area over which\Nthey're asking ships to slow down.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.58,0:09:32.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So hopefully that has\Na positive impact for these whales.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.54,0:09:36.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In 2017, the Vancouver\NFraser Port Authority
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.88,0:09:39.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,also introduced discounts in docking fees
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.79,0:09:43.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for ships that are physically\Ndesigned to be quieter.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.04,0:09:45.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, weirdly, a lot of the noise\Nfrom a ship like this
Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.83,0:09:49.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,comes from the popping of tiny bubbles\Noff the back of its propeller.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.50,0:09:52.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you can simply design a ship\Nto do less of that
Dialogue: 0,0:09:52.62,0:09:54.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to be quieter.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.54,0:09:58.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The International Maritime Organization\Nhas published a huge list of ways
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.33,0:10:00.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that boats can be made quieter.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.88,0:10:03.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they also have a target
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.12,0:10:05.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of reducing carbon dioxide emissions\Nfrom global shipping
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.83,0:10:08.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by 50 percent by 2050.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.38,0:10:11.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the great news is that\Nthese two things go hand in hand.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.46,0:10:14.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the whole, a more\Nefficient ship is a quieter ship.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.17,0:10:21.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People have also invented quieter ways\Nof hammering in the giant posts
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.08,0:10:23.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,needed for giant\Nwind turbines, like this one,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.71,0:10:26.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and gentler ways of doing seismic surveys.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.71,0:10:30.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there are some incentives\Nfor using quieter technologies.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.12,0:10:31.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The European Union, for example,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:31.88,0:10:35.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has a healthy marine system\Ndirective for 2020.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.38,0:10:38.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And one of the ways that they define\Na healthy marine system
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.29,0:10:41.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is by how much noise\Nis going in those waters.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:41.54,0:10:45.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But on the whole, most waters\Nremain completely unregulated
Dialogue: 0,0:10:45.29,0:10:47.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when it comes to ocean noise.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.12,0:10:50.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But again, most of\Nthe scientists I spoke to
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.21,0:10:53.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,said that there's real momentum\Nright now in policy circles
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.04,0:10:54.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to pay attention to this issue
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.54,0:10:57.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and maybe do something about this issue.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:57.25,0:11:01.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We already know enough to say\Nthat quieter seas are healthier seas.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.42,0:11:05.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But now scientists are really scrambling\Nto come up with the details.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.46,0:11:07.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just how quiet do we need to be?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.46,0:11:11.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And where are the best places\Nto make quiet or preserve quiet?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.96,0:11:14.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And how best can we hush our noise?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:15.67,0:11:17.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you know, I'm not trying to tell you
Dialogue: 0,0:11:17.62,0:11:20.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that noise is the biggest\Nenvironmental problem on the planet
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.54,0:11:21.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or even in the ocean.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.83,0:11:25.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the point is that humankind\Nhas a lot of impacts
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.67,0:11:28.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on our environmental system.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:28.17,0:11:30.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And these impacts don't act in isolation.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.33,0:11:32.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They act together, and they multiply.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.88,0:11:35.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So even for the ones\Nthat are not so obvious,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:35.33,0:11:38.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we really need to pay attention to them.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.92,0:11:41.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll tell you about one last experiment,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.88,0:11:43.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just because it's so beautiful.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.50,0:11:44.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Rob Williams,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.79,0:11:48.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one of the researchers who works\Non southern resident killer whales,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.04,0:11:49.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,also does some work in Bali.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.88,0:11:51.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there, they celebrate\Na Hindu tradition
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.96,0:11:54.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called nyepi, or a day of silence.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.83,0:11:57.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this day, apparently,\Nis very strictly observed.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.79,0:11:59.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No planes take off from the airport,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.88,0:12:01.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,no boats go out fishing,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:01.46,0:12:06.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the tourists are gently led off the beach\Nback into their hotel rooms.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:06.04,0:12:08.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Rob Williams put some\Nhydrophones in the water there
Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.79,0:12:10.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see what the impact was,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.21,0:12:11.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was dramatic.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:11.54,0:12:14.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sound levels dropped\Nby six to nine decibels,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.29,0:12:17.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the same\Nas in the waters after 9/11.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.67,0:12:20.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For an "acoustic prospector"\Nlike Williams,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.54,0:12:22.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is what he calls himself,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:22.46,0:12:24.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this silence is golden.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:24.75,0:12:28.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now he and other researchers\Ncan go back to this place
Dialogue: 0,0:12:28.04,0:12:29.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and see what the fish choose to do
Dialogue: 0,0:12:29.69,0:12:32.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with all this additional\Nacoustic real estate.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.25,0:12:36.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Soft bubbling)
Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.12,0:12:39.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I like to think of them\Nhaving their own holiday,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.12,0:12:41.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feasting and finding mates.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:41.46,0:12:43.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Celebrating their own spot of calm
Dialogue: 0,0:12:43.54,0:12:46.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in an otherwise noisy world.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.25,0:12:47.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:47.54,0:12:50.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)