This document provides technical guidance for assessing the effects of underwater anthropogenic (human-made) sound on the hearing of marine mammal species under the jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). It identifies the received levels, or acoustic thresholds, at which individual marine mammals are predicted to experience changes in their hearing sensitivity (either temporary or permanent) for acute, incidental exposure to underwater anthropogenic sound sources.

This is part of our Good Practice Guidance for Marine Mammals, produced by Claire Lacey, Jon Barnes and Patrick Lynes.

Reference: National Marine Fisheries Service (2016) Technical Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Antropogenic Sound on Marine Mammal Hearing: Underwater Acoustic Thresholds for Onset of Permanent and Temporary Threshold Shifts. U.S.Dept of Commer., NOAA. NOAA Technical Memorandum. NMFS-OPR-55, 178p.