Revista Sextante

Assessing the Environmental Impact of Naval Operations on Coastal and Marine Ecosystems

Elena Marguerite Voss-Almeida

Atlantic Institute for Maritime Environmental Studies, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

Keywords: naval operations, marine ecosystems, underwater noise, coastal pollution, environmental impact assessment

Abstract

Naval operations are among the least studied yet most spatially extensive human activities in the ocean. Warships, submarines, auxiliary vessels, aircraft and shore installations introduce acoustic energy, chemical residues, exhaust emissions, biological invaders and physical disturbance into coastal and open-sea ecosystems. This article reviews the available scientific evidence on the pathways through which naval activity affects marine life and habitats, from the behavioural responses of whales exposed to mid-frequency sonar to the long-term contamination of seabeds by munitions residues. It examines vessel emissions, ballast water and hull fouling, coastal construction, live-fire training and cumulative stressor interactions. It then considers monitoring approaches, assessment frameworks and mitigation measures, including seasonal exclusion zones, quieter propulsion, cleaner fuels and transparent environmental reporting. The review concludes that although military activity is a small share of total maritime traffic, its intensity, secrecy and concentration in ecologically sensitive training areas make it a distinct management challenge. Closer cooperation between navies, regulators and marine scientists is essential to reconcile national security with the long-term health of marine ecosystems.