Paws Down!

To the Bush Administration for allowing the U.S. Navy to bypass vital federal and state no-sonar environmental laws.

The federal Coastal Zone Management Act was established in 1972 to help states protect natural ecosystems and wildlife along and within coastal waters.  California laws under this Act require the U.S. Navy to discontinue sonar exercises when, among other stipulations, marine mammals are sighted within 2,200 yards of operations.  President Bush recently excused the U.S. Navy from adhering to these no-sonar zone rules during routine naval training exercises off the California coasts.  The president defends the non-compliance stating that Navy training performed within the limits of the environmental laws will “undermine the Navy’s ability to conduct realistic training exercises.”

This action by the Bush Administration is much criticized by organizations and agencies working to protect marine mammals.  While further studies are needed to fully understand the impact of sonar on various ocean animals, current research indicates that sonar waves can be damaging to vital animal parts, notably the ears and brain.  More over, the sounds emitted by sonar waves are believed to cause navigation confusion among marine mammals such as dolphins and whales.  The bodily damage and confusion caused by sonar waves is strongly blamed for unnaturally high numbers of “beached” and other ocean animal deaths.

Resources:

http://www.nrdc.org/media/2008/080116.asp

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/01/17/2008-01-17_bush_exempts_navy_from_whalefriendly_son.html

http://www.visionmagazine.com/archives/0803/earthwatch.html