Seismic testing can severely damage fish hearing

News in Science ^ | Friday, 14 February  2003 | Bob Beale

[vannrox]

I didn't even know that fish could hear.

[Skeet]

What? WHAT?

[AWCreamSoda]

indeed they can - absolutely vital to their survival - another factor, damage to the inner ear can disallow them from being able to adjust to pressure changes. This can severely destroy the fish population.

[VoteHarryBrowne2000]

Don't worry, they won't feel a thing! Recall this article about fish and pain?
Small brains, no pain for fish
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/839648/posts

[TopDog2]

Huh?

[capt. norm]

Strange part of it is that fish are attracted to the noise. SOme excellent underwater video seems to indicate this as huge schools of fish gather around these sites.

[2Jedismom]

WHAT??

[Skeet]

Sounds like a great place to go fishin'!

Sorry for the pun.

[capt. norm]

"damage to the inner ear "

Fish which hear through their "lateral line" which connects to "neuromast organs" that translate it into data useable by their tiny brains as sound sensations.

[AWCreamSoda]

yes, and all those things fall in direct jurisdiction of the inner ear - any damage that occurs in that area can have grave consequences.

[Tacis]

And, even those fish who eventually recover completely complain about a constant ringing in their ears. Anpther little know effect on fishes is that all the noise causes theri little fish ears to fall off leaving nothing to hold their fish glasses. Thus, not only can fish hearing suffer but so too can fish seeing. It is a terrible thins.

[Gopher Broke]

Shhhhhh....please don't tell the trolls at PETA about this one....

[No Truce With Kings]

Thwee widdle fishees inna iddy-biddy poo. . .

[Diddle E. Squat]

Maybe these fish were spawned at the Gallaudet Hatchery?

[Diddle E. Squat]

Little fish. big fish. swimming in the water.
Come back here, man. gimme my daughter.
Little fish. big fish. swimming in the water.
Come back here, man. gimme my daughter.
Little fish. big fish. swimming in the water.
Come back here, man. gimme my daughter.
Little fish. big fish. swimming in the water.
Come back here, man. gimme my daughter.
Little fish. big fish. swimming in the water.
Come back here, man. gimme my daughter.
Little fish. big fish. swimming in the water.
Come back here, man. gimme my daughter.
Little fish. big fish. swimming in the water.
Come back here, man. gimme my daughter.
Little fish. big fish. swimming in the water.
Come back here, man. gimme my daughter.

[joesnuffy]

Hard of Herrring?

[onedoug]

There are a lot of sounds in the ocean.

[scab4faa]

Won't someone please think of the fish!

[nothingnew]

Fish Democrats, which hear through their "lateral line" which connects to "neuromast organs" that translate it into data useable by their tiny brains as sound sensations.

FMCDH

[eno_]

I thought they were talking about Phish concerts.

I STILL have a ringing in my ears.