JONAS: A Joint program for Ocean Noise in the Atlantic Seas (2019-2022)

JONAS aims to address the risks of acoustic pressures on biodiversity focusing on sensitive receptor species in the NE Atlantic by streamlining ocean noise monitoring and risk prediction. Cost effective, risk-based approaches to monitoring and modelling noise across the maritime territories of the Atlantic Arc countries (France, Ireland, Portugal Spain and the UK) will be developed; these will be appropriate to the scale of the area, the levels of anthropogenic pressure, and the susceptibility of receptor species. JONAS draws on the outcomes of the BIAS Life+ project, adapting and generalising methods and standards from the Baltic to reflect the scale and complex oceanography of the NE Atlantic region. JONAS will also cooperate closely with the JOMOPANS project, which is currently addressing underwater noise in the adjoining North Sea Area, and QUIETMED in the Mediterranean. JONAS will address real-time noise management at local scale in particularly sensitive areas and support policy partners to develop Regional-scale approaches that benefit vulnerable biodiversity and support MSFD implementation. The value of JONAS will be maximised by creating an innovative common operational platform and providing maritime decision support for both real-time and long-term adaptive management of sensitive marine areas.

https://www.jonasproject.eu/

Status

IQOE is past the mid-point in implementation of its Science Plan (available here) and has successfully coordinated a variety of activities in ocean acoustics and bioacoustics through IQOE working groups on the use of acoustics to assess biodiversity, the importance of acoustic observations in the Arctic Ocean, standards for reporting ocean acoustic and bioacoustic data for IQOE, software for making acoustic observations comparable worldwide, and recommendations for implementation of an Ocean Sound Essential Ocean Variable for the Global Ocean Observing System. IQOE progress has been documented since June 2018 through IQOE Newsletters and since the beginning of the project through other products. IQOE identified 2020 as the Year of the Quiet Ocean because of evidence that ocean sound decreased because of decreases in human activities in the ocean due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Next Steps

Activities in 2023 will include completion of the Ocean Sound Essential Ocean Variable Implementation Plan, initiation of new activities on low-cost ocean acoustic observing systems, launch of the Open Portal to Underwater Sound (OPUS), work on ocean acoustics for the UN Decade on Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, and meetings of IQOE working groups and Science Committee.