Loud Noises in Oceans by Ships, Sonar, and Oil and Gas Exploration Causing Harm to Range of Sea Species, Including Whales, Dolphins and Sea Turtles

As stated in the article below, this is a serious issues, as “Increased noise levels have not only been scaring animals and shortening the distance over which they can communicate with each other, but some loud noises may directly cause tissue damage while others can spur animals into surfacing too quickly, leading to injuries similar to the bends.”

Article:

What's All the Ruckus?

http://www.grist.org/news/2008/12/04/ludnss/index.html?source=rss#null

Human-caused noises in oceans messing with wildlife, experts say

Loud noises in the world's oceans, caused by ships, powerful sonar, and oil and gas exploration, are negatively affecting a range of sea critters, including whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and others, according to a report by the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Increased noise levels have not only been scaring animals and shortening the distance over which they can communicate with each other, but some loud noises may directly cause tissue damage while others can spur animals into surfacing too quickly, leading to injuries similar to the bends.

Navy Release EIS: Sonar Training Exercises WILL Kill at Minimum 30 Marine Mammals Per Year: Will Not Impose Stricter Standards Imposed by Judge

Will Not Impose Stricter Standards Imposed by Federal Judge

Surprise, surprise. The US Military will not safeguard any life AND they won't listen to court orders. As stated below, “Navy training exercises could expose 94,370 marine mammals to behavior-altering sonar frequencies each year, potentially injuring or killing as many as 30.”

Article:

Navy Crock-It

http://www.grist.org/news/2008/
04/04/navy/index.html?source=rss

Sonar will kill some marine life but safeguards are adequate, says Navy

Posted at 2:47 PM on 04 Apr 2008

Navy training exercises could expose 94,370 marine mammals to behavior-altering sonar frequencies each year, potentially injuring or killing as many as 30, according to an environmental impact statement released Friday by the Navy. But in its 1,796-page report, the Navy sticks with current safeguards for protecting marine animals, not adopting stricter standards imposed by a federal judge earlier this year. Green groups are likely to challenge the EIS in court, continuing a seemingly neverending cycle of litigation and appeals.

Bush Goes Around Court Decision and Puts Whales in Danger: Gives OK to Allow Navy Sonar Training Exercises Linked to Whale Stranding and Deaths

Not surprising at all.

Article:

Bush decision on sonar a blow for whales

New Scientist

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/us/
mg19726403.200-
bush-decision-on-sonar-a-blow-for-whales.html

IT'S not quite full speed ahead and damn the whales, but this week President Bush has given the US navy special dispensation to use sonar in training exercises off the southern California coast, in spite of restrictions imposed by a district court judge to protect marine mammals.

At issue are mid-frequency sonars, which have been linked to whale strandings and deaths, but which the navy considers essential for spotting ultra-quiet diesel-powered submarines. Earlier this month, Judge Florence-Marie Cooper imposed restrictions on sonar training missions in a case filed by the National Resources Defense Council and the California Coastal Commission.

Navy officials appealed to President Bush, who last week exempted the training exercises because of their importance to national security. At the same time, the administration's Council on Environmental Quality allowed the navy to operate without an environmental impact statement. The judge temporarily dropped the two restrictions the navy considered most troublesome - to shut down sonars when marine mammals come within 2 kilometres of the transmitters, and when conditions allow sonar pulses to travel long distances.