Systematic monitoring of underwater noise in the Baltic Sea has been carried out in since 2021 (during 2024–2025 the work was carried out in PÄPSI project).
Previous results show that noise is a chronic problem in the Baltic Sea. Quality standards, to which Finnish monitoring results can be compared, have been outlined in international working groups. Preliminary findings from the EU funded project BIODIVERSEA LIFE-IP indicate that noise causes acute problems for marine organisms in the Baltic Sea. The necessary reduction of noise has, so far, not been sufficiently successful. Noise particularly affects marine mammals and fish, which rely on sound for species-specific behavior and whose hearing is tuned to low frequencies—unfortunately, the same frequency range as the majority of underwater noise.
The project funding also supports participation in meetings of the EU TG Noise and HELCOM EG NOISE working groups. The results are updated annually in time series available on the website MarineFinland.fi.
