The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) (Directive 2008/56/EC) establishes a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy for Europe in order to achieve a Good Environmental Status (GES). In order to help Member States achieve GES MSFD sets out eleven qualitative descriptors, which describe what the environment will look like when GES has been achieved. Descriptor 11 relates to underwater noise, which shall be at levels that do not adversely affect the ecosystem. Impacts of man-made underwater noise on the marine environment are related to the prevalence and timing of any activity as well as the distribution and abundance of sensitive marine life.

The objective of the present project is to provide a contribution to the sustainable management of underwater noise. Since the knowledge and tools available to address Descriptor 11 are still insufficient, a first step towards an appropriate monitoring is the production of a thorough inventory of available data, the conceptualization of an adjusted monitoring network, based on direct measurements and modelling, and recommendations for best practices. The active involvement of stakeholders in different stages of the project will also allow their engagement in possible prevention or mitigation measures to reduce underwater noise in the future.

This Project is a stepping-stone for the proper implementation of the MSFD’s descriptor 11 and will contribute to:

• the national marine waters knowledge at the level of any of the descriptors of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive – through the development of tools to implement descriptor 11, which will contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity (descriptor 1).
• the accomplishment of International Conventions (IMO and EU) aiming the prevention of marine pollution – through involving the maritime transport companies and ports as active stakeholders to follow the project’s development and to engage in workshops on underwater noise.
• the development of innovative Information and Communication Technologies to support decision making in the context of the monitoring, assessment and management of underwater noise – through the Web portal and its mapping of soundscapes and underwater noise along the Portuguese coast and distribution of acoustically sensitive species.