Tuesday, February 13, 2007
HONOLULU - The Navy says it won't comply with sonar training
restrictions that aim to protect marine mammals off the California
coast, arguing that the commission that imposed the rules does not have
the jurisdiction to do so.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet said in a statement Monday that the California
Coastal Commission's rules cannot be applied beyond the scope of state
waters, three nautical miles from shore.

"The Navy does not take lightly our responsibility to the environment
and marine life," said Vice Adm. Barry Costello, commander of the U.S.
3rd Fleet in San Diego. "And we can be responsible environmental
stewards while our sonar operators receive realistic training and
experience at sea they need."

The Navy has been using sonar during training exercises off the
California coast for decades, a practice that critics say can injure
whales and other sea mammals. Last year, it sought permission for the
exercises from the commission as part of new internal guidelines to
ensure major exercises are environmentally sound.

The commission agreed to the exercises last month. But it also imposed
restrictions on use of mid-frequency active sonar in a zone the Navy
said was outside the commission's jurisdiction.

Mark Delaplaine, a project analyst for the commission, said members
might take up the issue later in the week.

"We've got some stuff to think about and figure out as to what a proper
response would be," he said.

Environmentalists on Tuesday criticized the Navy's decision, accusing it
of denying the commission's authority to protect mammals off its coast.
The Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group that has
sued to stop other Navy sonar training, vowed to sue if the coastal
commission does not.

"The notion that the commission is pre-empted from protecting marine
mammals off the California coast is not only without any legal basis but
it is in direct contradiction to the fact that the commission has been
doing exactly that for decades under the federal law protecting our
coasts," said Joel Reynolds of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Environmentalists say whales have stranded themselves on beaches after
being exposed to high-intensity mid-frequency sonar. The sonar is also
claimed to interfere with the ability of marine mammals to navigate,
hunt, take care of their offspring and avoid predators.

The Navy acknowledges mid-frequency active sonar can contribute to
marine mammal injury, or even death. It says it takes steps to protect
marine mammals, such as posting lookouts on board to watch for marine
mammals nearby.

But the Pacific Fleet said the commission's rules would prevent the Navy
from training sailors to use sonar to track enemy submarines. It has
made anti-submarine warfare training a top priority, as other nations,
including China, have acquired submarines that are quieter and harder to
detect.

there are even programs in place that train dolphins to hunt for
submarines off the coastlines...

the dolphins also look for stranded people,
adrift or injured people,and alert their trainers...

so why do we need sonar?

because our government won't quit pissing off other countries

WAKE UP AMERICA!!!

dolphins and sealions ar used for several tasks even the fight against
terrorism, they can drop beacons and sealions can even placea line
arounda limb of a swimmer or scuba diver so they can be "reeled in"

yes,I saw that show on national geographic

seems kinda old school I suppose considering technological advancements,
maybe someday soon there will be a better solution.

if our Navy has animals trained that well...
then why do they need sonar in those ranges that harm wildlife?

Wonder if their hiring??

i feel this is an outrage how can they care so little for out marine
life and our wildlife there is always something that happens and no ones
protecting why not if our critters are gone then who is next us

Lets see, Sonar hurts marine mammals. A dolphin is a marine mammal, so
wouldnt enemy sonar just defeat the use of dolphins as an effective
defense.
Heres a idea we can get the enemy to stop useing sonar too. That way
everything will be fair and our dolphins can find their subs. Come on
that was too easy!!!

my thoughts were to change the range of effective sonar...
use frequencies that are not harmful to marine life...

or deploy a squad of dolphins if there might be subs around...
their sight is very effective too,
the animals can be trained to squeek a certain pitch,
to activate a remote homing device,and track the subs that way.

but the widespread use of animals for our benifit has been going on for
centuries...
like falcons to hunt with,dogs to guard with,
horses and cattle all used like slaves...

I wonder if dolphins have those kind of feelings?