Report of the Workshop on International Harmonisation of Approaches to Define Underwater Noise Exposure Criteria (Budapest, Hungary 17th August 2013)

The potential negative effects of high levels of underwater noise on marine life have been identified and acknowledged, and this issue has been incorporated into various international agreements over the past decade. Several countries have already issued regulations to limit the incidence and level of anthropogenic noise in the oceans. The development of regulations on noise exposure in marine environments has to date focused on two groups, marine mammals and, to a lesser extent, fishes. Nevertheless, our understanding of the complexity of acoustic and behavioural effects is improving, and it might be possible to develop existing noise-exposure criteria with scientific knowledge evolving. More importantly, new regulations, or at least the approaches taken toward regulations, could be internationally harmonised to provide better protection for marine fauna