Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Blainville's Beaked Whales (photo: Deron Verbeck, Iamaqautic.com)
The U.S. Navy has gotten the okay from the National Marine Fisheries Service to harm up to 27 different Pacific Ocean species during its training exercises scheduled near the Mariana Islands. The authorization includes killing up to 10 beaked whales over the next five years.
The training exercises deal with anti-submarine warfare and include the use of mid- and high-frequency sonar and detonation of explosives.
The whales can be adversely affected by naval sonar, which can cause the mammals to swim too fast to the surface after deep dives, resulting in getting the bends and dying.
Naval commanders have promised to do what they can to limit harming whales during the exercises by requiring ships and submarines to keep at least 1,500 feet away from any whales that are spotted and to avoid approaching the mammals head-on.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Navy May 'Take' Ten Whales in Marianas (by Travis Sanford, Courthouse News Service)
Federal Register /Vol. 75, No. 148 (eDocket)
Mariana Islands Range Complex Environmental Impact Statement (United States Navy)
U.S. Fisheries Service Accused of Removing Protection of Right Whale by Changing Its Name (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)
Navy Asks Permission to Harass Whales (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)
Navy Settles Lawsuit with Whales (AllGov)
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