Published on 20 May 2026

Results of the IPSOS ‘Vitesses Bleues’ survey

The survey was carried out by IPSOS on behalf of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in March 2026. It was conducted in five European countries with the support of the KRESK 4 OCEANS endowment fund.

Noise pollution that is still not widely recognised

The survey highlights a striking paradox concerning our relationship with the sea. Whilst 98 per cent of Europeans surveyed consider it essential to protect marine life, the danger posed by underwater noise remains unseen: only 14 per cent of respondents spontaneously identify it as a threat.

However, the noise generated by commercial ships causes deadly disruptions for many species (cetaceans, fish, invertebrates) that rely on sound to navigate, feed, and communicate.

A realization that calls for action

However, once people learn about the devastating impact of this noise pollution on ocean wildlife, public opinion shifts dramatically. The results in France are particularly telling:

Many French people believe that the problem of marine noise pollution must be addressed urgently.

0 %

call for the implementation of binding regulations, considering voluntary measures to be insufficient.

0 %

say they are willing to accept longer delivery times if it helps protect marine life.

0 %

actively support reducing ship speeds, as advocated by the Vitesses Bleues project

0 %

A pivotal year for European legislation

The release of this survey comes at a critical political juncture. The European Union is currently working on revising the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and preparing to draft the future European Legislative Act for the Ocean, which is widely expected to be adopted in 2026.

With the support of KRESK 4 OCEANS, IFAW is building on this public mandate to call on European authorities to take action. It is imperative that these regulations include a mandatory reduction in the speed of commercial vessels. Reducing speed is no longer just a scientific recommendation; it is now a demand from the public.