Navy critical of sonar restrictions

[David]

The Associated Press

HONOLULU - Environmentalists insist the Navy needs to do more to protect whales and other marine mammals, even after the activists forced limits on the military's use of sonar in maritime exercises off Hawaii last month.

But the Navy is adamant it won't allow the agreed restrictions on mid-frequency active sonar to set a precedent. It says the steps were often unnecessary, hindered training, and in some cases weren't based on fact.

"There is no science that supports some of the limits we're being driven to," said Adm. Gary Roughead, Pacific Fleet commander. "I believe it is important that we introduce science into this argument."

The perception gap sets the stage for further legal and public relations battles as the Navy, for the first time, prepares to seek federal permits to use sonar during all of its anti-submarine warfare exercises starting in January.

Sailors use active sonar by pumping sound waves through the ocean and listening to the echo as it bounces off underwater objects. It's a key technology for finding enemy submarines and Navy leaders have made practicing sonar techniques a top priority.

Scientists say sonar might mask the echoes some whales and dolphins listen for when they use their own natural sonar to locate food. Navy sonar might also startle some species, prompting them to rush to the surface. There's evidence that this gives them a form of "bends," the decompression sickness human divers get when they surface too fast.

Rear Adm. James Symonds, Navy director of environmental readiness, said he believes having sailors watch through high-powered binoculars for whales and dolphins can help keep marine mammals from harm. He further agrees that ships should turn down their sonar when marine mammals are spotted nearby because some animals might be injured - or compelled to swim away - when they come within 450 yards or so of active sonar.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, which is leading the legal fight against the Navy, has vowed to push the military to do the maximum. Joel Reynolds, the organization's senior attorney, said the measures the Navy agreed to for the Hawaii exercises offered good examples of "common-sense measures" that protect marine mammals. But he said the Navy needs to strengthen its steps and adopt additional ones, not roll back those already tried.

[Boats]

Dave good article - I have some input on this subject but can't work on it right now. I will try to get back to this thread when more time is available.

Thanks

[SuperScout]

Was not this the same group of tree-huggers that forced the Navy to shut down the firing range on the island in Puerto Rico? Isn't this just more anti-military agitation by other group that wants to weaken our military all the more?

Sea mammals are smarter than we give them credit for being. If they are in an unsafe area, instinct will direct them away if they have the slightest chance of escape.

[Jerry D]

Don't the Chi-coms and Russians use Sonar also? seems these environmental wackos only go against Country's that will listen to them! I would love to hear these Tree Huggers and Save the Whales types tell the Russians that they couldn't use Sonar during their war games. Next time the Courts tell the Submarine Crews not to use Sonar during Training I would tell them Yea ,Yea and when submerged do what they need to do to stay vigilant To our brave men and Women under the seas