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Underwater Sound Sanctuaries

Partnering for change

Sonos is partnering with the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation to create the world’s first Underwater Sound Sanctuaries. This groundbreaking initiative brings together leading researchers, nonprofits, and governments to reduce harmful underwater noise on a global scale.

We envision a healthy underwater world teeming with the rich sounds of marine life.

Our three-year campaign has three separate phases.

Phase 1.

Developing standardized criteria (Current phase)

Bring scientists and nonprofits together to establish clear standards for Sound Sanctuaries

Phase 2.

Designating Sound Sanctuaries (2027)

Recognize and formally designate the world’s first Sound Sanctuaries based on defined criteria

Phase 3.

Discovering new Sound Sanctuaries (2028)

Identify promising areas that do not yet meet the criteria and support their journey toward Sound Sanctuary designation

Why we created this campaign

Marine mammals use sound for communication and navigation. The thunderous underwater noise from container ships disrupt these vital ecosystems — and when vessels speed through critical habitat, they can fatally strike endangered blue whales.

"Partnering with Sonos on this initiative allows us to draw on decades of ocean sound research and marine management experience towards the designation of the world's first underwater sound sanctuaries. Our Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies program has proven the power of collaborative public-private partnerships to tackle some of the largest threats to marine environments and endangered whale populations. Managing underwater noise is fundamental to protecting marine habitats, and this partnership positions us to help ocean managers worldwide adopt proven noise mitigation strategies."

- Robert Mazurek

- Executive Director of the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation

Sonos has been a proud ambassador of the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies program since 2023. We ask the container ships carrying our products to slow down in critical marine habitats which reduces fatal strikes to whales, lowers carbon emissions, and minimizes underwater radiated noise. Our campaign with the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation to create Underwater Sound Sanctuaries builds on the success of the Blue Whales and Blue Skies program.


Please get in touch with us at csr@sonos.com.

Giles Martin

Our partners