In a new study conducted by the U.S. Navy, there is an astounding number of dolphins and whales that are being harmed from Naval training exercises.
Staff attorney Zak Smith concludes that the matter is “incredibly concerning.” As the Navy calculated, approximately 200 marine mammals could possibly die annually from the Navy’s use of explosives and sonar. The study also discovered that the Navy’s sonar and explosive use could cause over 1,600 hearing loss incidents as well as other injuries every year within the waters between San Diego and Hawaii.
Other issues surface as the Navy furthers its research. Many scientists have said that the sonar activity can disturb the feeding routines and convince marine mammals to leave their habitat. Also, the sounds of the sonar can shock the marine animals so that they bolt to the surface very quickly.
Zak Smith with the Natural Resources Defense Council concluded that the mitigation measures “largely depend upon the ability of people on deck to spot marine mammals. The ability to detect marine mammals once they’re out of perfect conditions starts to drop off dramatically.”
The jump in this study’s risk stems from two different reasons. First, new research has also shown that marine mammals’ pain thresholds are much lower than previously anticipated. Second, the Navy also expanded its use of in-port sonar testing since the last test.
Although this study does not have a positive outcome, it teaches the U.S. Navy how to improve its testing and exercise training before the impacts truly start to show in the overall marine life.
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