Active Sonar (including LFAS - Low Frequency Active Sonar) is a set of anti-submarine technologies which emit very loud pulses of sound into the ocean, and then listen for echoes in order to paint a snapshot picture of all objects within their range. Click here for an overview of Active Sonar....
The US Navy has stated that have "developed complex and costly measures to minimize risks to marine mammals" and that they "investigated the possiblity that there could be something in the structure of the LFA signal that posed a special risk for behavioral disruption in marine mammals." "Although some responses were measured, none of the responses indicated a potential for the disruption of biologically important activities." Click here for source...
However, the following articles document instances all over the world where whales have died on the same day that US and NATO Navy forces utilized active sonar nearby....
US judge rejects Bush's Navy sonar exemption
Posted Wed Feb 6, 2008 8:10am AEDT
A Los Angeles judge has rejected a decision by United States President George W Bush to allow the Navy to use sonar equipment accused of endangering marine life, saying there is no justification to override environmental laws.
In a 36-page opinion, US District Judge Florence Marie Cooper says the Navy must now abide by a previous order which outlawed the use of submarine-hunting sonar in areas off the coast of California known to be populated by whales.
Last month Mr Bush granted an exemption to the Navy, arguing sonar was vital for military preparedness exercises.
Posted Wed Feb 6, 2008 8:10am AEDT
A Los Angeles judge has rejected a decision by United States President George W Bush to allow the Navy to use sonar equipment accused of endangering marine life, saying there is no justification to override environmental laws.
In a 36-page opinion, US District Judge Florence Marie Cooper says the Navy must now abide by a previous order which outlawed the use of submarine-hunting sonar in areas off the coast of California known to be populated by whales.
Last month Mr Bush granted an exemption to the Navy, arguing sonar was vital for military preparedness exercises.
Sonar tied to deaths of 400 dolphins? (click here)
Zanzibar scientists look for clues; U.S. Navy task force in area
Zanzibar scientists look for clues; U.S. Navy task force in area
ZANZIBAR - Scientists are studying the remains of some of the 400 dolphins that washed up dead on a beach popular with tourists on the northern coast of Zanzibar.
Among other possibilities, marine biologists were examining whether U.S. Navy sonar threw the animals off course.
Villagers and fishermen on Saturday buried the remains of the roughly 400 bottlenose dolphins, which normally live in deep offshore waters but washed up Friday along a 2.5 mile stretch of coast in Tanzania's Indian Ocean archipelago....
Among other possibilities, marine biologists were examining whether U.S. Navy sonar threw the animals off course.
Villagers and fishermen on Saturday buried the remains of the roughly 400 bottlenose dolphins, which normally live in deep offshore waters but washed up Friday along a 2.5 mile stretch of coast in Tanzania's Indian Ocean archipelago....
