Navy Use of Sonar in Whale Habitats

To: Gordon Brown
From: Littia Swift
Re: Navy using Sonar in Whale Areas
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President Bush recently “exempted the Navy from an environmental law” so it can continue using sonar for training purposes, though the sonar can negatively affect whales and other “marine mammals.” The exemption will not allow the Navy to continue its practices, but will bring them an advantage when the matter is decided in court on Friday. President Bush signed the exemption saying that “complying with the environmental law would undermine the Navy’s ability to conduct realistic training exercises that are necessary to ensure the combat effectiveness of carrier and expeditionary strike groups.”
The decision made in court on Friday will have a negative impact on either the Navy or the marine wildlife on the California coast. This issue is of great importance because it requires a decision between promoting national security and preserving marine wildlife. The base in California is where half of the Navy’s fleet receives its final training. The Navy needs the area for preparing forces and giving men and women thorough training before sending them to potentially dangerous places. The marine wildlife in the area can be negatively affected by the use of sonar. The Navy’s sonar can cover the natural sonar used by mammals such as whales and dolphins, therefore making it harder for them to locate food. Scientists have also found that sonar can cause hearing loss and tissue damage, along with altered diving habits, which can be deadly for certain species of whales.
Much of the controversy on this subject revolves around the President’s actions of exempting the Navy from the environmental law. “The president’s decision drew immediate criticism from environmentalists who had fought to stop the Navy’s sonar training.” Joel Reynolds, director of the Marine Mammal Protection Project at the Natural Resources Defense Council said that “by exempting the Navy from basic safeguards under both federal and state law, the president is flouting the will of Congress, the decision of the California Coastal Commission and a ruling by the federal court.” An alternative to choosing between the importance of the Navy’s training and the protection of the marine wildlife is available. Since different levels of sonar only affect some species and do not harm others, it would be possible to study which species are affected and by sonar and which types of sonar negatively affect them. By studying this problem, scientists could eventually discover which species are harmed and delve into deeper topics such as the locations of the majority of those species, and if at all possible, point the Navy toward a location that could, in the future, allow them to provide necessary training while leaving the marine wildlife relatively more unharmed.

Further Information:
MSNBC.com “Bush allows Navy to use sonar in whale areas.”

MSNBC.com “Bush allows Navy to use sonar in whale areas. Video Link.”