Environment and Conservation Organisations (ECO) of New Zealand said Spanish research into mass deaths of squid, cuttlefish and octopus showed organ damage in these creatures after just two hours exposure to low frequency noise from 50-400 hertz, or "acoustic smog", due to oil and gas exploration and shipping.
"The scientists found that the organ that allows squid, octopus and cuttlefish to regulate their positions to balance and direct how and where they swim was damaged leaving the animals unable to move or to feed and vulnerable to predators," ECO co-chair Barry Weeber said.
Researchers at the Technical University of Catalonia in Barcelona found the deaths of giant squid, washed up on Spanish beaches in 2001 and 2003, were caused by nearby oil and gas seismic surveys.
Mr Weeber said the research was further evidence that the Government needed to rethink its approach to deep-sea oil exploration and development as it had failed to consider the risk to the marine environment.
The organisation called for acting Energy and Resources Minister Hekia Parata to suspend Brazilian company Petrobras' permit to search for oil off the East Cape.
"This research is further reason to be very concerned about seismic surveys in the sea, including those of Petrobras off East Cape and the subject of seaborne protests," Mr Weeber said.
Squid, octopus and cuttlefish were keystone species in the marine ecosystem, with lots of other species feeding on them, he said.
Ms Parata could not be reached for comment but a spokeswoman said Petrobras did have a marine mammal officer onboard its ship.
Meanwhile, Independent MP Hone Harawira said it was a disgrace that police used a naval vessel to arrest the skipper of a protest ship, Elvis Teddy, who was opposing Petrobras' search for oil.
"With Anzac Day on Monday, the police's use of a naval vessel to detain Mr Teddy was an insult to soldiers from East Coast iwi Te Whanau a Apanui who died fighting for the country," he told Radio New Zealand.
Mr Teddy, the captain of San Pietro, was arrested for breaching the Maritime Transport Act after police boarded his boat yesterday morning amid protests against Petrobras.
Mr Teddy was charged with operating a vessel in unsafe manner under section 65 of the Maritime Transport Act, police said.
He was released on bail last night to appear in court in Tauranga on Friday.
Police said they were still reviewing evidence and may lay further charges.
The maximum penalty for the offence is up to 12 months in prison or a fine of up to $10,000.
San Pietro, manned by local iwi, was stationed, along with three other protest boats, in front of the survey ship Orient Explorer in the Raukumara Basin, off the coast of Gisborne, police said.
After repeated warnings the three other boats moved away but the San Pietro stayed and deployed buoys and fishing lines in the path of the survey ship, causing "grave safety concerns" for the ship's master, Superintendent Bruce Dunstan said.
After further warnings police, who had been stationed on nearby navy ships, boarded the San Pietro from inflatable boats.
Mr Teddy was arrested and taken back to the navy warship HMNZS Taupo, and returned to Tauranga police station.
Mr Dunstan said the arrest followed a "blatant safety breach".
San Pietro is owned by local iwi Te Whanau a Apanui and is part of a protest flotilla in its third week of opposing deep sea oil drilling.
Petrobras is operating under a five-year licence granted by the Government.
