underwater stop noise

We are able to appreciate the harmful effects of Air Pollution and Noise Pollution in the land. All countries are trying their best to minimise Air and Noise Pollution.

What about Oil Pollution and Underwater Noise Pollution in the Oceans ?

Yes, all countries are trying their best to minimise Oil Pollution. Same efforts are not seen to minimise Underwater Noise Pollution in the Oceans. Underwater Noise Pollution is as harmful as Oil Pollution to marine life. In fact, Ocean Mammal Institute has lot of fact sheets on Underwater Noise Pollution.

Last month, a deep diving dolphin was found dead on the beach of the US Navy’s San Nicolas Island. Similar deaths of other marine species are often reported from different parts of the world. It is reported that the U.S. Navy plans to deploy Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFA) to detect quiet submarines, throughout 80% of the world’s oceans. This implies that US Navy is planning to aid Underwater Noise Pollution in 80% of the world’s oceans and preparing to lay death traps to marine mammals.

Sonar can be used as a very useful marine equipment. It is high time for all nations to chalk out plans to use Sonar without disturbing marine mammals.

Update: June 13

The reported death of 26 dolphins off the Cornish coast on June 11- is it mass suicide of dolphins or due to use of sonar by the Royal Navy ships in the area. Read Daily Mail here and here.

Update: July 11

The US Navy is leading the United States in funding research to determine the effects of sound on marine mammals. Read more from US Navy.

Update: July 14

Sonar triggers whales beaching. Read more from SeaFlow.

Update: August 05

Whales subjected to military sonar will neither dive nor feed, according to an unpublished 2007 report from the UK military. Read more from Nature News.

Update: September 16

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw) says undersea noise blocks animals’ communication and disrupts feeding. Also underwater noise pollution is becoming a threat to whales, dolphins and other marine mammals. Read more from BBC News.

Update: October 03

Scientists of Canary Islands carried out post mortem on dead beaked whales, to find out the cause of death.  What they found in the micro-vasculature (capillary blood vessels) was that gas bubbles and fat that were working there as foreign bodies, blocking the cardiovascular system. Also these foreign bodies were blocking the small vessels, breaking them and inducing haemorrhage in the beaked whales. Further, the same signs were noticed in the liver, kidney, spleen, lungs, pancreas and lymph nodes of the whales examined.

Environmental groups said it proved that military sonar used during the exercise was driving the animals to their death. Read more, view photographs and video clip from BBC News.

Update: October 10

The Supreme Court heard Oral Argument on October 08, regarding the Navy’s use of active sonar during major training exercises in Southern California. The Navy’s position is that the lower court’s decision is legally erroneous and conflicts with the judgment of Congress, the President and the nation’s top naval officers. The preliminary injunction prevents Navy strike groups from conducting realistic training with mid-frequency active (MFA) sonar off the coast of Southern California. Read more from U.S.Navy.

Update: November 15

On November 12,  the Supreme Court supported by a majority of the Justices, ruled for the Navy on the challenge to Navy’s use of sonar for the 14 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) combat certification training exercises off the coast of Southern California (SOCAL). The U.S Navy is very pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision. Read more from U.S Navy.

Here is a video clip on lethal sounds by sonar.


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