Monitoring of underwater noise in the waters of the Republic of Cyprus (2026 – Ongoing)

Scope

This project launches a long-term programme to monitor continuous underwater noise in the marine waters of the Republic of Cyprus. Coordinated by MER and implemented in partnership with SENSEAFR SAS, the programme supports environmental status assessment under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), particularly Descriptor 11 (D11C2) on continuous underwater noise.

The monitoring design combines two complementary approaches: a fixed Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) system deployed at a representative offshore site, and a mobile PAM system carrying out monthly surveys at offshore stations southeast of Limassol. Together, these approaches provide both long-duration time series and spatial coverage, helping Cyprus build a more complete picture of underwater sound levels in its marine waters.

Underwater noise generated by shipping, coastal development and offshore activities can affect marine fauna, including cetaceans, through masking, disturbance and other pressure pathways. By producing consistent acoustic indicators, mapped outputs and policy-relevant assessments, the project will strengthen the scientific basis for national reporting, management and future mitigation.

The programme also includes a central data repository, a mapping module for MSFD compliance, staff training, and a set of dissemination outputs that translate technical results into accessible material for both specialist and wider audiences.

Methods at a glance

• Deployment of a fixed acoustic buoy system at an agreed offshore site (around 50 m depth), supported by an identical spare unit for continuity and maintenance.
• Operation of the fixed PAM component in alternating six-month activation/deactivation cycles, giving a total of 18 months of fixed monitoring within the wider programme.
• Monthly mobile PAM surveys over 36 months at stations 15–20 km southeast of Limassol, including offset points to capture spatial gradients in underwater noise.
• Standardised calculation of acoustic indicators, including broadband SPL, deci-decade SPL and power spectral density (PSD), supported by structured logs of noise events and cetacean detections.
• A secure acoustic data repository and access hub for processed data, raw .wav files, system status and periodic reporting.
• A dedicated data mapping module using RAM-based noise propagation modelling, monthly median noise maps and habitat-overlap assessments for bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) habitat.
• Training and knowledge transfer for DFMR staff, including theoretical and field-based sessions on monitoring, processing and interpretation.
• Quality assurance through system calibration, maintenance planning, regular reporting and close coordination with the Contracting Authority.

Outputs

• A long-term fixed and mobile underwater-noise dataset for the marine waters of Cyprus, supporting MSFD assessments.
• A series of inception, biweekly, monthly, progress and final reports documenting implementation, acoustic results and analytical outputs.
• Noise maps, GIS-compatible vector/raster files and habitat-overlap products supporting compliance assessment and future management.
• A central repository of raw and processed acoustic data with supporting metadata and validation material.
• A public communication package including an A3 infographic, roll-up poster and two short bilingual videos tailored to scientific/stakeholder and public audiences.
• Knowledge-transfer outputs, including staff training and a draft manuscript prepared for submission to a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Supporting Cyprus’s underwater-noise monitoring pathway

The programme directly supports Cyprus’s implementation of the MSFD and aligns with wider European and regional efforts to assess and manage underwater noise in the marine environment. It also complements previous national and regional work on underwater sound, including earlier DFMR monitoring initiatives and Cyprus’s participation in QUIETMED and QUIETSEAS.