The Navy versus the Whales (Again)

by Stephanie Ernst · 2009-08-03 17:30:00 UTC
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From NRDC's Switchboard:

Today the Navy released its Record of Decision to begin construction of an undersea warfare training range right next to the only known calving grounds for the critically endangered right whale.  Hunted nearly to extinction, North Atlantic right whales are one of the world's most endangered species, with only about 300 remaining.  The North Atlantic right whale remains extremely vulnerable to the continuing threats posed by ship strikes, entanglement and ocean noise - a triple threat that will be exacerbated by the Navy's disastrous plan to build an undersea warfare training range adjacent to their last remaining calving grounds.

Once constructed, the proposed undersea warfare training range will be the site of intensive, year-round exercises employing the same kind of active sonar that has caused multiple marine mammal strandings leading to injury and death.  It would effectively transform the waters off the Florida coast into an epicenter of sonar use.

Continue reading here.

Stephanie Ernst wrote the original Animal Rights blog at Change.org until December 2009. She can now be found at Animal Rights & AntiOppression.
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