How can sonar harm whales

Included in this estimate are two million incidents of "temporary hearing loss," and 2, are targeted for permanent hearing loss. A deaf whale is a dead whale. Lindy Weilgart , sperm whale researcher at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia warns us "There are some technologies that simply should never be used. As a scientist -- and as a mother and fellow inhabitant of this fragile planet -- I am alarmed at this new threat to our oceans.

The ocean gives us our air, our water, our food, and regulates our climate. The ocean literally enables human life. Criticism of the Navy's sonar has intensified, even as the military has intensified their sonar tests.

The main concern of scientists and environmentalists is that the Navy has not done enough environmental impact research and knows much too little about the devastation they're unleashing on our marine environment to proceed with such expanded target ranges. The Navy has paid little heed to the scientists, the lawsuits , the public outcry, and the many media storms all protesting this risky technology.

Even while sometimes admitting sonar's role in mass strandings -- like those in the Bahamas, Canary Islands, Pacific Northwest, Greece, and North Carolina -- the Navy has proceeded to garner federal permits to expand their sonar tests. NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service just gave the Navy the go-ahead for their proposed sonar exercises, targeting those two million whales and dolphins.

The Navy has agreed only to post look-outs onboard ships to spot whales. The Navy should at least use common-sense precautions: declare whale sanctuaries, birthing nurseries, and whale migration paths off-limits to sonar testing. The Navy could employ their sophisticated listening devices to make sure no cetaceans are in the path of their lethal sonar. Sonar is necessary to determine the location of submarines and other Navy operations. In , four different species of whales stranded themselves on beaches in the Bahamas after a US Navy battle group used mid-frequency sonar in the area waters.

The government investigated and found the sonar caused the stranding. Environmentalists sued the Navy in October, , claiming the use of sonar disrupted and killed whales and dolphins.

The group wanted the Navy to use harmless passive sonar. This article is not a political statement, so I will only deal with the affect of sonar on whales. See Subscription Options. Fall Flash Sale. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. Sign Up. Support science journalism. Knowledge awaits. This includes two-thirds of the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population. This exemption— from the protections usually afforded by the Marine Mammal Protection Act—is valid from November 9, to November 8, Subsequently, they spent many years determining these habitats, including tagging and tracking these orcas from California to Washington State to identify key feeding grounds.

They ultimately proposed six new areas of critical habitat in these coastal waters, yet with this latest decision, they have failed to protect this endangered population from harassment and harm in a single one of these six areas!

Likely due to feedback from state officials, public comments and strong media interest, the Navy updated its Environmental Impact Statement , with several measures specifically relating to the Southern Resident killer whales. These were, they claimed, based on an ongoing analysis of the best available science. On Sept. This indicates that sonar, weapons testing and use of noisy military aircraft will operate with impunity for the next 7 years, impacting the Southern Residents throughout the northern portion of their range, where they spend the vast majority of their lives.

While the Environmental Impact Statement includes proposals to alert crews to the presence of endangered orcas when testing sonar and weapons, it has no such plan for flight activities, as the Navy and NOAA say there are no impacts.

Yet underwater recordings of Growler aircraft reveal this noise penetrates feet! Yet recordings show Growlers are equally loud, if not louder than vessels, so why is this source of noise pollution not considered a threat?

Let's ensure saving salmon and orcas is high priority in Washington State's next budget. Act Now. What's a Take? Does that mean they are going to kill the whales? A take can be as simple as an animal changing their direction of travel or other behavior patterns, but as severe as death.