The committee seeks to strengthen the management of noise pollution control in the marine environment, in order to prevent its impacts on biodiversity.
Chaired by the Minister of the Environment, Carolina Schmidt, a few days ago the creation of the “Operational Committee for the Strengthening of the Management of Underwater Noise Control and the Prevention of its Impact on Biodiversity” was made official. This committee is made up of different state bodies, together with representatives from academia and science.
“Underwater noise management needs to be strengthened. Today there is overwhelming evidence of the effects on marine fauna, such as the reduced communication capacity of different species, which can even affect their survival,” stated Carolina Schmidt.
In 2018, the Ministry of the Environment began a line of work to address this environmental problem, creating an intersectoral work group to coordinate and strengthen the various actions carried out by public and private entities in this area, which has materialized with this committee.
The main objective of this committee is to support and strengthen the actions, programs and projects of its different institutions, which are oriented to the control of underwater noise and the prevention of its impacts on biodiversity. This is done by collecting technical and scientific information on underwater noise, disseminating projects and programs that address the problem, and serving as a forum for consultation and technical discussion for the development and implementation of public policies, plans and programs. It also seeks to provide technical support to the institutions that make up this Committee and other bodies of State Administration.
The Committee, chaired by the Ministry of the Environment, is composed of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, the Directorate General of Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine (DIRECTEMAR), the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA), the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (SERNAPESCA), the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA), the Superintendence of Environment (SMA), the Center for Advanced Studies in Arid Zones (CEAZA), the MERI Foundation, the World Wildlife Found Chile, and Universidad Austral, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Universidad del Desarrollo, Universidad Pontificia Católica de Chile and Universidad de Concepción.
Photos/Author: Jorge Herreros de Lartundo