Stop U.S, Navy Sonar Trainings and Bombs that Injure and Kill Marine Mammals

Is it fair to subject marine mammals to untimely deaths in the name of sonar trainings and bombs?!  The U.S. Navy, despite the recommendations of the California Coastal Commission (CCC), is using the beautiful ocean deep for Sonar Training and Bombing which has been proven harmful for the beautiful marine life so important for our nature and ecology. 

The plan of the Navy is to increase their sonar training and underwater bomb detonations off Southern California beginning in January 2014. It does not intend to abide by the states recommended mitigation measures, such as avoiding training in globally important foraging habitat for the endangered blue whale. Recent studies have shown that these training activities by the U.S. Navy is indeed harming marine mammal species, such as blue whales and beaked whales, far more than was previously known.  These training exercises and activities should not come at the expense of the beautiful marine life of the deep.  The Navy has no regard for these creatures that they place in grave danger and possible extinction.

The CCC has offered the U.S. Navy various options and recommendations while affording greater protection to these vulnerable species which they have refused.  Not only will these sonar training and bombing activities kill at least 130 marine mammals outright but also deafen more than 1,600 others. Feeding of mammals will be disrupted and births disoriented or upset along with other vital behaviors more than 8.8 million times in the process. And the trainings are going to increase tremendously in the coming years. 

Ecowatch.com states that “Each year, the Navy would run more than 10,000 hours of the same high-intensity military sonar that has killed and injured whales around the globe. In addition, the Navy would detonate more than 50,000 underwater explosives off the Southern California coast. Hundreds of these explosives would pack enough charge to sink a warship, which is exactly what they’re used for.”  The Beaked whale is the most vulnerable to these dangers and their population has decreased substantially in the recent years. Blue whales are also in danger due to these activities.

There are other options for these training activities by the U.S. Navy as presented by the California Coastal Commission and we need to encourage them to elect other alternatives and take a stand in protecting our marine life.  Sign the petition (plus share it) and take a stand for justice in helping these beautiful creatures live the normal happy life they deserve in our deep blue oceans! Demand that our Navy stop killing our marine mammals of the deep!!