Prohibit Military Sonar and Seismic Testing harming Marine Mammals
Prohibit the use of mid frequency sonar exercises projected to harm and or/kill up to 9 million Marine Mammals.
We the citizenry of the United States hereby petition the Congress and the President of the United States to prohibit the use of mid frequency sonar as well as seismic testing by the United States Navy and or Scientific research vessels that have been proposed by the US Navy and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA) based on the following:Use of military sonar has been associated with mass whale strandings and deaths in Hawaii, the Bahamas, Greece, Madeira, Vieques, the Canary Islands, Spain, Japan and the American Northwest. But while the U.S. Navy openly acknowledges that its active sonar harms marine mammals, it refuses to comply with laws that limit sonar?s use. In 2007, suit was filed against the Navy over its plans to use high-intensity, mid-frequency active sonar in Hawaii waters, including within a humpback whale sanctuary and near the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. In February 2008, a federal district judge found the Navy in violation of the law and declared that it may not proceed with its plans in Hawaii unless it adheres to measures protecting marine mammals and prepares an environmental impact statement. Most recently, in early 2012 we filed suit with allies against the National Marine Fisheries Service for failing to protect thousands of whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions from ocean noise brought by Navy warfare training exercises along the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington.
Other kinds of oceanic noise pollution, such as that caused by seismic surveys ? which create the loudest noises detectable in the ocean ? also have a significant effect on whales. In 2002, two dead beaked whales were found stranded in the Gulf of California following underwater airgun blasts fired by a National Science Foundation-owned research vessel. As a result of the previously filing suit ,an injunction was granted shutting down the seismic surveys.
Other kinds of oceanic noise pollution, such as that caused by seismic surveys ? which create the loudest noises detectable in the ocean ? also have a significant effect on whales. In 2002, two dead beaked whales were found stranded in the Gulf of California following underwater airgun blasts fired by a National Science Foundation-owned research vessel. As a result of the previously filing suit ,an injunction was granted shutting down the seismic surveys.
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