Biological effects of anthropogenic noise on fish: a review

Anthropogenic noise produced by a variety of human activities is increasing in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats worldwide. Urbanization, industrialization and maritime transportation have introduced various man-made sounds into the aquatic environment with a broad range of temporal and spectral patterns. Aquatic animals including marine mammals, fishes and invertebrates with different hearing ability can perceive sounds and extract relevant signals and cues from ambient noise in the environment and therefore potentially may be affected by anthropogenic noise differently. In this review, the main sound sources have been clearly demonstrated. Then, in general more prevalent sound detection and sound production mechanisms and organs have been discussed among fish species. Moreover, I address anthropogenic noise effects on fishes including physical, physiological, masking and especially behavioral changes. Moreover, I compared our latest results and behavioural studies on the effect of noise on fish behaviour with recent studies. Finally, I suggest insights of sound-related behavioural changes can be used as a useful method to monitor, assess and mitigate the potential effects of noise on fish species. I believe the studies in the current review contribute eventually to more general awareness of potential issues with noise pollution in aquatic habitat and shed light on the potential effect of anthropogenic noise on fish behaviour. I am sure that, by then, more fundamental insights and future studies will come in handy for potential monitoring, protection or mitigation efforts at the community levels in the aquatic environments.