Navy Sonar Hurts Whales: New Report Reignites Issue

By Anastacia Mott Austin

The debate has been going on for years: does the use of deep ocean sonar waves by Navy vessels cause whales to strand themselves?

A recent warning from the International Whaling Commission seems to say yes. Comprised of 200 expert whale biologists, the commission has issued a report citing concerns about an upcoming joint Australian-US naval exercise called Talisman Sabre, saying that precautions need to be taken to prevent "injurious or lethal effects to cetaceans."

The exercise, which is due to take place off the coast of Australia for two weeks in June, will include a combined 27, 500 US and Australian troops, 125 aircraft, and 30 navy ships. The drill will employ mid-frequency sonar waves, used to locate submarines. The purported aim of the exercise is to enable Australian and US forces to "enchance their combined and joint war fighting skills."

Marine scientists have voiced concerns for years about the effects of sonar use on ocean life, particularly deep-sea diving creatures such as certain species of whales. The International Whaling Commission has issued previous reports on the issue, including a document which contained 22 recommendations to limit the use of mid-frequency sonar.

After incidents of mass whale beachings, such as the one in 2002 in the Canary Islands after a NATO drill, marine biologists found bleeding in the brains and ears of the whales, as well as other organ damage suspected to have been caused by sonar. Other experts say the injuries are from a condition known as "the bends," in which the mammals rise to the surface too rapidly in order to avoid the noise. Another concern is hearing loss for whales, a fatal deficit in a species which relies on its hearing far more than sight for survival.

A study published recently in the scientific journalNature stated that mid-frequency naval sonar will produce a continual noise which is equivalent to "a Saturn V rocket at blast-off."

Marsha Green, a representative for the Ocean Mammal Institute, told reporters that the beaching of whales only represents a small portion of the damage caused by sonar. "The reality is the strandings are only the tip of the iceberg," said Green. "Most of the animals that are injured are going to die and sink to the bottom."

Marine conservation groups such as the Ocean Futures Society (founded by Jean Michel-Cousteau), as well as the International Fund for Animal Welfare, have sued the US Navy over utilizing mid-frequency sonar testing.

A representative for the Australian Defense Force told reporters, "We will be maintaining visual surveillance," for the upcoming exercise, adding that the areas in question must be searched for marine life before the drill can begin. "If there is any doubt about an area being clear, we will not be using sonar."

The U.S. Navy echoes the sentiment. "The Navy is committed to the continued use of active sonar and goes to great lengths to minimize any potential effects on marine life through the use of protective measures," said Navy lieutenant Steve Curry, in an emailed press release.

According to the International Whaling Commission, of particular concern for the impending exercise is a species of whale known as the beaked whale, which frequents the area in question. "This is an area where there are beaked whales, and beaked whales have been sensitive to mid-frequency sonar," said Arne Bjorge, IWC scientific committee chairman, to the Associated Press.

Bjorge added that in previous incidents of stranded beaked whales after sonar testing, "Post-mortem examination of beaked whales there found clear indications of significant trauma from the mid-frequency sonar range."