Navy study: Sonar, blasts might hurt more sea life
Source: Associated Press
Navy study: Sonar, blasts might hurt more sea life
AP foreign, Friday May 11 2012
AUDREY McAVOY
Associated Press= HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. Navy says its training and testing using sonar and explosives could potentially hurt more dolphins and whales in Hawaii and California waters than previously thought.
The new research and more thorough analysis are part of a draft environmental impact statement covering Navy training and testing planned for 2014 and 2019. A notice about the study is due to appear in the Federal Register on Friday.
In the study, the Navy estimates its use of explosives and sonar may unintentionally cause more than 1,600 instances of hearing loss or other injury to marine mammals in one year. The service calculates that its use of explosives may inadvertently cause more than 200 marine mammal deaths a year.
The old Navy analysis — covering 2009-2013 — estimated the service might unintentionally cause injury or death to about 100 marine mammals in Hawaii and California, although no deaths have been reported.
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