1. Progress Works, recommendations and future work programme
Marine Strategy Framework Directive: From Technical Group on underwater noise (TG Noise)
Progress Works, recommendations and future work programme
MSCG
10-11 November 2014, Brussels

2. Descriptor 11
The good environmental status of the marine environments is achieved when
"the introduction of energy, including underwater noise, is at levels that do not adversely affect the marine environment" (2010 Good Environmental Status decision (2010 GES Dec.).
For energy, measurement of noise should have priority.
Two indicators defined, addressing main concerns:
Impulsive sound – loud, low and mid frequency
e.g. Seismic surveys, piling, sonars, explosions
Continuous low frequency sound – ambient noise
e.g. Commercial shipping , seismic surveys
10-11/11/14 MSCG Meeting
TG Noise Progress

3. Revised terms of reference for TG Noise,
Proposal to MSCG :
Revised terms of reference for TG Noise,
Progress report from TG noise to MSCG, including the future work programme of TG Noise:
Status of implementation of D11, including the feedback from questionnaire
Review of GES 2010 Decision
Review of CEFAS contract on "impacts of noise and use of propagation models to predict the recipient side of noise"
Overview of TG Noise recommendations
10-11/11/14 MSCG Meeting
TG Noise Progress

4. Status D11 implementation Questionnaire
Questionnaire on :
Usability of TG Noise Guidance,
Status of monitoring, common problems.
Based on 15 MS answers, (Last 2 recent answers not integrated)
2014 TG Noise Monitoring Guidance is adequate
Impulsive noise: much planning of noise registers, none operational
Ambient noise: much intention, a few pilot/experimental measurements, no baseline or historic levels
10-11/11/14 MSCG Meeting
TG Noise Progress

5. TG noise Recommendations
Monitoring
1. Start monitoring. 2. Once monitoring has started and results become available, consider need for management, possibly on a regional basis
10-11/11/14 MSCG Meeting
TG Noise Progress

6. TG noise Recommendations
Standards
International standards (ISO) needed but development within ISO will take long (beyond 2020)
Member States to work together and support development of standards for terminology, modelling, measurement and monitoring
Volunteer lead nation for international standard for underwater noise monitoring needed (NL, UK leading other ISO groups)
Adopt interim guidance/ draft standards
BIAS 2014 Standards for noise measurements
Draft ISO standard (November 2014) for terminology
10-11/11/14 MSCG Meeting
TG Noise Progress

7. TG Noise Recommendations
Review of the GES 2010 Decision
Tightened up technically in line with guidance For new indicators, developed a scoring system based on 3 criteria (scale, evidence of impact, added value) to assess potential candidate pressures that might affect GES (e.g. high frequency impulsive sounds, electromagnetic fields, heat) Propose paper on scoring system to be subject for discussion in the January 2015 meeting GES cross-cutting issues. If scoring system accepted, will be used by TG Noise for advice on D11 (but could be used for review other indicators)
10-11/11/14 MSCG Meeting
TG Noise Progress

8. TG Noise Evaluation Roadmap towards GES and noise mapping
Results of CEFAS project “Impacts of noise and use of propagation models to predict the recipient side of noise“ were evaluated project and the proposed advice confirmed
Define terminology/metrics/measures/basic intermediate time analysis to measure ambient sound
Design scientific studies to address knowledge gaps and research priorities on crustaceans, fish and marine mammals
Develop suitable common sensor technology to monitor ambient sound at the relevant frequencies for deployment across Member States
Suggested a method to address the problem of defining GES for underwater sound, including setting thresholds, targets and refining descriptors
10-11/11/14 MSCG Meeting
TG Noise Progress

9. Future work programme Revised terms of Reference
2015
1. Assist MS/RSC’s on implementation of operational monitoring programmes
Setting the monitoring of ambient noise in a (sub)region
Setting up and interpretation of the noise register ,
Provide advice for the review of the 2010 GES Decision, following the cross-cutting issues meeting of GES working group ,
Review the outcomes of projects relevant to monitoring and assessment of the effects of underwater noise .
10-11/11/14 MSCG Meeting
TG Noise Progress

10. Future work programme Revised terms of Reference
2015
2. Consider the design of assessment frameworks for underwater noise
Use the noise monitoring to assess underwater noise effects and characterize this effect (Link between Pressure- Impact and State), enabling future assessment of GES.
Assessment and regulation may need to be considered on a sea regional basis.
TG noise will provide assistance to group of MS :
to enable coherent interpretation of results of monitoring, within and between regional sea conventions
to consider options for management frameworks, and if required, help in their development
10-11/11/14 MSCG Meeting
TG Noise Progress

11. Future work programme Revised terms of Reference
2015
3. Support the process of standardization in ISO and ensure making use of European experience,
Including participation in international technical workshop (Germany)
10-11/11/14 MSCG Meeting
TG Noise Progress

12. Future work programme Revised terms of Reference
2015
4. Links to other activities
TG noise will continue to support MS to work with their neighbors to develop regional/sub-regionale underwater noise monitoring procedures
Liaison with RSCs : e.g. register of loud impulsive noise and development of a joint monitoring programme for ambient noise
Liaison with existing regional group (OSAPR ICG Noise) and project initiatives :
BIAS (HELCOM) project
SONIC (
AQUO (
Liaison with US (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration) , to Ocean Noise Strategy and the cetaceans and sound project (Sound Vs cetacean density distribution)
10-11/11/14 MSCG Meeting
TG Noise Progress

13. MSCG is invited : to provide comments on progress report by 13 November to support the future work programme to Marine Directors for endorsement, if possible without discussion
10-11/11/14 MSCG Meeting
TG Noise Progress