Naval Sonar Suspected in Deaths of Whales & Dolphins

Feb. 5, 2008 - Navy Must Comply With No-Sonar Rule - Environmental groups seeking to protect whales from the potentially harmful effects of sonar cheered a legal victory against the Navy and the Bush administration.
Jan. 4, 2008 - Navy Must Cut Sonar Use off California - A federal judge in Los Angeles on Thursday ordered the toughest set of restrictions ever imposed on the U.S. Navy's use of mid-frequency sonar off the Southern California coast as part of a protracted court battle to protect whales and other marine mammals from underwater sonic blasts...
March 21, 2007 - U.S. Navy Asserts "State Secrets" in Sonar Case - The U.S. Navy on Tuesday said it had asserted the "state secrets" privilege in a lawsuit by environmental groups, a move to keep the military from being forced to disclose classified information about the use of sonar believed to injure whales and other animals.
Jan. 24, 2007 - Navy Exempt in Sonar Ban - The Navy has been given a two-year exemption from provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act that will allow it to use mid-frequency sonar and a new sensor that uses small explosive charges during major training exercises and on established ranges and operating areas.

Why Sonar May Harm Whales & Dolphins - Research has shown that the sonar waves can be heard by whales and dolphins - and campaigners believe it may be causing the whales to beach.

Call For Study on Impact of Sonar - Some scientists believe the sonar signals may cause bubbles in the animals' tissue, in much the same way as divers can suffer decompression sickness known as "the bends".

Beached Whales Die Off Tasmania - Tasmanian wildlife officer Shane Hunniford said about half of the 53-strong pod of whales off Maria Island had already died, and efforts were under way to save the other beached animals.

Researcher Says Navy Killing Cetaceans - According to Ken Balcomb, director of the Center for Whale Research on San Juan Island, there is now unmistakable evidence showing the animals are bleeding to death from brain hemorrhages and trauma to the inner ear. Necropsies and CT scans of dead dolphins back up his claims.

Group Sues Navy to Limit Sonar It Says Harms Marine Life - The group sued the Navy over its use of low-frequency sonar in 2002 and negotiated a settlement limiting its use. The new suit calls on the Navy to make changes to its far more extensive use of mid-frequency sonar, as well.

Sonar 'May Cause Whale Deaths' - Many unexplained strandings and deaths of marine mammals could be caused by soundwaves from underwater military sonar equipment, zoologists believe.

Oct. 23, 2005 - Navy Moves Forward on Sonar Facility Despite Concerns About Whales - Planning for the $99 million range has been underway for almost 10 years, but environmental challenges and concern that the sound waves from sonar may harm protected marine mammals have held up the process. The Navy published its draft environmental impact statement Friday and plans to begin a series of public hearings on the proposal next month.

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