A long-term monitoring program is needed to track future changes in ocean noise. Acoustic data should be
included in global ocean observing systems now being planned by U.S. and international research
foundations. Data from these monitoring systems should be openly available, and accessible to decision
makers in industry, in the military, and in regulatory agencies. In tandem, a database should be developed
to collect, organize and standardize data on ocean noise measurements and related anthropogenic activities.
Currently, data regarding shipping, seismic exploration, oil and gas production, and other marine activities
are either not collected or are difficult to obtain and analyze because they are maintained by separate
organizations. Marine noise measurements and anthropogenic source data should be used to develop a
global model of ocean noise. An important component of model development is better understanding of
the characteristics for anthropogenic noise sources such as commercial shipping, arigun arrays, and military
sonar. Research should be conducted relating the overall levels of anthropogenic activity (such as the types
and numbers of vessels) with the resulting noise.