Wildlife

Deafening Spawn

Dolphins and other sea mammals swimming in Mexican waters may be made deaf from exposure to the loud noises generated in the spawning frenzies of one fish species.

A new report documents how this happens at a single site each spring in the far northern Gulf of California when Gulf corvina gather by the millions to spawn.

“These spawning events are among the loudest wildlife events found on planet Earth,” said researcher Timothy Rowell of the University of California San Diego.

The sounds, which are described as resembling “a really loud machine gun,” could at least temporarily deafen nearby seals, sea lions and dolphins.