N° 7 2021 
Annex 2: Assessment of prioritization of issues 
The table below presents the risk assessment framework as applied to the issue of marine animals and underwater 
noise with an assessment of prioritization. The table is originally presented in Boyd et al., (2008) relating to marine 
mammals only, and we present an update extending the scope to fishes and invertebrates as well. Areas highlighted in 
blue indicate high priority issues, and these are reflected in the recommendations presented in Chapter 5. 
Note that there is some overlap between the main research issues across the stages of risk assessment. For example, 
the distribution and abundance of anthropogenic sound sources is relevant to hazard identification, as well as exposure 
and dose-response assessments and is hence included twice 
STAGE IN RISK 
ASSESSMENT 
FRAMEWORK 
STEP 1: Risk 
identification 
5TEP2 & 3: 
Exposure 
assessment 
and dose- 
response 
assessments 
(both long-and 
short-term) 
MAIN 
RESEARCH 
ISSUES 
Sources of 
sound in 
the marine 
environment 
Sound fields 
in the marine 
environment 
Marine species 
as receivers of 
sound 
:ffects of 
sound on 
ndividuals 
SUB-ISSUES 
DEGREE OF 
UNCERTAINTY 
‚OR MAMMALS 
{Boyd et al, 
2008) 
Characteristics 
of natural and 
anthropogenic 
sound sources 
Distribution 
and abundance 
of sound 
;ources 
Ambient noise , ,. 
fields High 
Sound fields 
of individual 
zources 
Auditory 
detection of 
sound 
\lon-auditory 
sensitivity of 
sound 
Distribution 
and abundance 
»f marine 
animals 
‘including 
‚ertical) 
Auditory 
detection of 
sound 
Non-auditory 
sensitivity to 
sound 
Distribution 
and abundance 
of sound 
sources 
Moderate 
Moderate 
?hysiological 
affects (e.g. 
ITS. PTS. stress) 
Auditory 
affects: 
moderate 
DEGREE OF 
UNCERTAINTY 
FOR MAMMALS 
(2021) 
Moderate / 
Low 
Moderate / 
High 
Moderate 
Moderate / 
High 
Moderate 
Moderate 
High 
AModerate 
Moderate 
Moderate / 
High 
TTS: Low 
PTS: High 
DEGREE OF 
UNCERTAINTY 
FOR FISHES 
(2021) 
Moderate / 
Low 
Moderate / 
High 
Moderate 
Moderate / 
High 
Moderate / 
High 
Moderate / 
High 
Moderate 
Moderate / 
High 
Moderate / 
High 
Moderate / 
High 
TTS: 
Moderate / 
High 
PTS: Moderate 
DEGREE OF 
UNCERTAINTY 
FOR INVERTE- 
BRATES (2021) 
Moderate / 
Low 
Moderate / 
High 
Moderate 
Moderate / 
High 
High 
Moderate / 
High 
High 
High 
Moderate / 
High 
Moderate / 
High 
TTS: 
High 
PTS: High