Global network to eavesdrop on oceans quieted by Covid Issued on: 08/04/2021 - 17:25 Travel and economic downturns due to Covid-19 has seen falls in maritime traffic, sea floor exploration and other human interference, creating "a unique moment" to gather data on the oceans' sonic landscape CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU AFP/File 3 min Paris (AFP) Scientists will take advantage of an unprecedented fall in shipping activity to listen in to the world's oceans and study how manmade noise affects marine ecosystems, the project organisers said Thursday. Travel and economic downturns due to Covid-19 have seen falls in maritime traffic, sea floor exploration and other human interference, creating "a unique moment" to gather data on the oceans' sonic landscape, they said.