In a previous Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 2009-2013, the U.S. Navy estimated that 150,000 marine mammals could be harmed in sonar training and testing exercises. Now in the EIS for 2014-2018, Navy estimates have soared, suggesting that sonar training and testing might unintentionally harm marine mammals 2.8 million times a year over five years, including deafening 15,900 whales and dolphins and killing 1,800 more over the next five years, in testing in Hawaii, off the California and Atlantic Coasts, and in the Gulf of Mexico.
To sign a petition opposing the Navy’s plans, click here. Time is short. All comments are due by July 10, 2012, so please sign the petition today
Navy raises sonar impact on dolphins, whales dramatically
The Navy said the numbers were misleading since the new area is much larger and more activities have been added since the last statement. “It’s like comparing three grapes to a watermelon,” Pacific Fleet spokesman Mark Matsunaga told msnbc.com.
“These are just worst-case estimates,” he added. “That’s not to say we’re going to go out there and hurt them all.”
“Direct comparisons with the prior analysis might not be comparing apples to apples,” acknowleged Smith. “But I think that’s irrelevant. … Regardless of what accounts for this change the fact is that we — including the Navy — now understand that the Navy’s activities will have a much greater impact than previously thought.”
See also: Naval Sonar Exercises Linked to Whale Strandings, According to New Report
South Korea Plans to Resume Whaling for Research
From THE GUARDIAN
South Korea’s plan to resume hunting whales for research purposes has drawn immediate protests from non-whaling nations and environment groups that suspect the plans may be a cover for commercial whaling.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jul/06/south-korea-whaling-research?intcmp=122
Agency Still Not Saving Dolphins, Enviros Claim
By PHILIP A. JANQUART
Agency Still Not Saving Dolphins, Enviros Claim
By PHILIP A. JANQUART
HONOLULU (CN) – The National Marine Fisheries Service has put off implementing a take reduction plan for Hawaii’s false killer whales for years, two nonprofits claim in a federal lawsuit that says Hawaii-based longline fishing maims or kills up to almost 11 dolphins a year – four times the amount that the marine mammals’ population can handle
http://www.cnsenvironmentallaw.com/2012/06/29/1006.htm
I would be pleased if you, Lyndia Storey, and others who are publicizing and petitioning to stop the marine animal impact read and also advertised a very good article at http://www.holology.com/whale.html This article is fair and balanced, detailed, and presents additional information that is helpful.
I wanted to know why the Navy is doing this, and whether there were any alternatives, before signing the petition. This holology.com article answers that and more. First, it seems convincing that this testing is not necessary. Second, it seems quite likely that the Navy’s current threat is not the only threat facing marine animals. Other countries are likely to do similar testing in the future. We may need a U.N. resolution forbidding any such testing by any country.
As a result of reading this holology.com article, I now will sign the petition.
– Bill
Thank you Rick for bringing this to our attention. In more than four decades of sailing the world’s oceans we have witnessed many whale strandings and the sight of those huge animals dying a slow painful death is more than upsetting.
All branches of Government are criminals and this behavior is to be expected from individuals who believe in using force to get what they want. It’s utterly disgusting and mindless. Dolphins are nonhuman persons and deserve rights to life and liberty.
The world’s leaders that can prohibit this useless killing of both the ocean’s animals and the endless aggression against each other, ie. finding new and more deadly ways to kill each other, will not address this testing and will not even admit it is occurring. Watch the documentary, Mermaids: the body found which aired on Aug 6, 2012. You will find astounding evidence on that program that the sonar testing killed not only huge numbers of whales, but that a new species of sea creature resembling a human species was also discovered and captured by the US Navy. I strongly urge you to watch the program.
Don’t believe all you see on TV. The Discovery press release admits that the program was a hoax:
“MERMAIDS: THE BODY FOUND makes a strong case for the existence of the mermaid, a creature with a surprisingly human evolutionary history, whose ancestral branch splits off from a shared human root. The film is science fiction, using science as a springboard into imagination and centering the story on the following real-world events.”
‘Mermaids: The Body Found’ Fools Viewers Again
See also our post: Breaking News: NOAA Claims that Mermaids Aren’t Real!
Thank you so much for keeping everyone updated about the Navy sonar operations and for providing a link to petition the government.
This is a heartbreaking issue . . . nice to know you’re out there . . .
Wow…seriously? Holology? I would be careful what I read if I were you. There are a whole bunch of hateful conspiracy theories on that page.
please be human do not hurt ocean’s animal more they are innocent.