A major oil & gas industry research programme has been studying possible effects on marine life of sound generated by exploration and production (E&P) activity. In its 11-year history, research funded by the Sound and Marine Life Joint Industry Programme (JIP) has resulted in the publication of more than 45 reports and over 100 peer-reviewed papers by independent scientists. For the first time, we have now mapped the outcomes of individual JIP studies against a general risk assessment framework. We found that over 90 per cent of all projects that were assessed either have or will provide information relevant to the framework. This means that: • JIP research contributes significantly to understanding of how to reduce risks to marine life that may be posed by E&P activities • oil & gas companies, contractors and regulators all have additional information to improve the quality of risk assessment using scientifically based research • there are potential benefits for informing risk assessment activities outside the oil & gas sector, such as shipping, fishing and pile-driving for windfarms.

Link To Publication