27/04/2026
The UAE Dolphin Project has halted all boat-based surveys in UAE waters due to the current situation. However, we continue to assess the impact of increased noise on local
cetaceans.
Light does not travel well underwater, so aquatic animals cannot rely exclusively on vision to navigate their environment. Instead, dolphins and porpoises use sound.
Through whistles and clicks, some at frequencies inaudible to humans, they communicate, socialize, and hunt.
They have developed the ability to use sound to “see” their surroundings through a process known as echolocation: they emit clicks that bounce off objects and return as echoes.
By interpreting these echoes, they can determine distance, size, shape, and even texture.
We use this same principle to monitor their presence through passive acoustic devices called F-Pods, which continuously record high-frequency sounds.
In noise-polluted waters, their ability to hunt and communicate can be compromised. This may lead to disorientation, separation from their pods, or even stranding events.
It is crucial to understand how local cetaceans are coping during these challenging times, and we hope to gain better insight into the potential effects once we recover the devices currently deployed.
In the meantime, your sighting reports remain as vital as ever - and especially reports of any eventual strandings.
