US Navy refuses to limit sonar explosive training despite risk to whales
THE US Navy has refused requests to limit sonar and underwater explosive training off the southern California and Hawaii that risks the health and safety of whales, reports LA area Orange County Register.
The navy will continue training during critically sensitive August and September when blue whales gather along the California coast despite recommendations by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) to ban such activities.
The navy claims that during its decades of training in the waters marine life has been unaffected. Sonar which can damage whales' auditory systems and create mass stranding, environmentalists say.
CCC manager Mark Delaplaine said he will continue to urge compromise on the navy. "At some point, the clock is going to run out and we'll have to have a response if we haven't come to an agreement," he said.
It will require authorisation from the National Marine Fisheries Service by January 2014, but is likely to face legal battle, say environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
THE US Navy has refused requests to limit sonar and underwater explosive training off the southern California and Hawaii that risks the health and safety of whales, reports LA area Orange County Register.
The navy will continue training during critically sensitive August and September when blue whales gather along the California coast despite recommendations by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) to ban such activities.
The navy claims that during its decades of training in the waters marine life has been unaffected. Sonar which can damage whales' auditory systems and create mass stranding, environmentalists say.
CCC manager Mark Delaplaine said he will continue to urge compromise on the navy. "At some point, the clock is going to run out and we'll have to have a response if we haven't come to an agreement," he said.
It will require authorisation from the National Marine Fisheries Service by January 2014, but is likely to face legal battle, say environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).