Help Us Safeguard Our Oceans from Noise Pollution

My name is Tiera, and I am on the Board of Directors of Quiet Ocean Standards Initiative, a grassroots nonprofit based on Kaua'i, Hawaii.

The Issue: Harm to marine life, marine ecosystems and human ocean users caused by 100 - 250 decibels of ocean-wide underwater noise caused by a new underwater internet network that is up for approval internationally.

The International Standards Organization is finalizing plans for an ocean-wide underwater internet and monitoring network that uses sound (sonar) encoded with data as its communication medium. While this "Smart Ocean" technology promises advancement, it comes with a potentially devastating environmental cost: the creation of excessive underwater noise that will mask marine mammals' ability to use echolocation which is vital to their survival, as well as causing harm or harassment to other marine species and human swimmers/ divers.

You can hear a sample of the sounds this network will produce 24/7 here.

Why This Matters

The oceans are fundamental to life on Earth. They provide 30% of humanity's food and product supply, generate 50% of our oxygen and cover 70% of our planet's surface.

Without proper safeguards, the current proposed "Smart Ocean" network may:

-Disrupt critical echolocation signals used by whales and dolphins to navigate, feed, and reproduce, potentially leading to extinction.

-Damage fish populations by rupturing swim bladders and affect coral reefs by interfering with their "sound symphony" essential for life and growth.

-Create safety hazards for swimmers and divers, as sound levels near underwater modems could burst human eardrums at close range.

Our Solution

At QOSI, we're working with international experts and committees to establish safety standards for this emerging technology. We're leading efforts to ensure the Smart Ocean underwater network is designed with environmental protection as a priority, allowing technological progress without sacrificing marine life and ecosystems.

Our approach includes conducting a Risk Assessment to document impacts of acoustic underwater networks, creating a comprehensive Technical Report for policymakers, and advocating alternative solutions like quiet, fiber-optic cables instead of disruptive acoustic transmitters.

Our Founder Kathy Matara, has joined the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC,) which is a worldwide organization that makes decisions on the future of electronics dating back to the beginning of electricity. So far, she has successfully prevented the installation of the Smart Ocean Network for nearly three years, but now we need your help to continue our work.

How You Can Help

This critical work requires resources and we need your support. We are at risk of not being able to complete this project if we cannot raise enough money to cover operational expenses. We are not doing this project for the money, we are doing this because of our deep love of marine mammals and the ocean. We believe in protecting the marine mammals that cannot advocate for themselves and creating a world where nature and technology can coexist in harmony. Despite our passion, we cannot continue without crucial funding.

With your ongoing monthly donations and willingness to share our cause, our doors will day open so we can continue to advocate for the safety of marine mammals worldwide.

Learn more at https://safesmartocean.org

Together, we can ensure our oceans remain vibrant, healthy ecosystems for all life that depends on them.

Thank you for supporting our efforts!

Warm Regards,

Tiera & the Quit Ocean Standards Initiative