Whales Win: Navy Can't Be Exempt From Sonar Ban

Written by Robert

Tuesday, 05 February 2008 19:37

Photo by Gil Ronduen

I was happy to read the news on Monday that a federal judge ruled in favor of the whales and against the interest of the US Navy. Environmentalists trying to protect whales, dolphins and other marine mammals against the potentially harmful effects of [...]

Photo by Gil Ronduen - www.ronduenphotography.com

I was happy to read the news on Monday that a federal judge ruled in favor of the whales and against the interest of the navy. Environmentalists trying to protect whales, dolphins and other marine mammals against the potentially harmful effects of sonar scored a legal victory against the Navy and the Bush administration.

There was a 12 nautical-mile no-sonar zone created off Southern California. About 2 weeks ago the president issued an exempt from sonar ban in this area saying it was a matter of national security. The navy lawyers argued president Bush was well within his legal rights.

Based on the ruling president Bush can't exempt Navy from this no-sonar zone and the navy is also required to shut down sonar when whales or other marine mammals are spotted within 2,200 yards of vessels.

It is believed sonar can damage the brains and ears of some whales and other marine mammals as well as it may interfere with the echoes from natural sonar that some whales and dolphins use.

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