See the human activity putting whales at risk

Sophisticated sonar techniques used by oil exploration companies as well as drilling are just part of the man-made problem causing havoc to whales' breeding and feeding patterns.

The International Whaling Commission wants more research done on the effects on whales which could lead them to put pressure on offshore operators to limit the noise they produce underwater.

The group has already witnessed that in the short term such noise forces whales to change their normal pattern of behaviour.

Noise from companies drilling for oil could be interfering with Whales

Dr Ray Gamble of the International Whaling Commission said: "When there's an uncomfortable sound in a place where they normally go, they seem to go away and when the sound is cut off, they quite often come back.

"We can see the short term reaction but what we are not so sure about is whether this will have long term repercussions, changing migration routes and moving animals away from their preferred feeding and breeding grounds."

He said that although the Commission had a good history of working with offshore operators more had to be done about the problem.

He said the group was not panicking early and stressed the need for taking a precautionary approach to the problem to insure the least disruption to marine mammals.

Experts from both sides discuss what can be done to end the problem on BBC News 24

He said that long-term studies to be done to discover if shipping and drilling was affecting the creatures.

The Commission is hoping to establish an international fund to boost research into the issue.

A spokeswoman for the UK Offshore Operators Association, said there was no scientific evidence that oil companies had caused any damage to whales but agreed that long term research was needed.

The International Whaling Commission is calling for studies into the problem

She said: "We take a very precautionary approach in the way we do our operations, working with the government to ensure we minimise any impact to the environment."

The industry will be holding a workshop in London later this month when experts and environmentalists will discuss the issue.

The spokeswoman added that some guidelines were already in place.