Supreme Court backs Navy in sonar training dispute

Washington - The US Supreme Court ruled Wednesday to eliminate restrictions on the Navy's sonar use in training exercises off the California coast. The 5-4 decision by the high court was a blow to environmental groups who argued the practice harms sea life and causes some species of whales to beach themselves. The Supreme Court determined the restrictions hamper the Navy's ability to detect increasingly sophisticated enemy submarines that could threaten the fleet, but offered no opinion on the damage the sonar could inflict on marine mammal life. 'We do not discount the importance of plaintiffs ecological, scientific, and recreational interests in marine mammals,' Chief Justice John Roberts said in writing the majority's opinion. 'Those interests, however, are plainly outweighed by the Navys need to conduct realistic training exercises to ensure that it is able to neutralize the threat posed by enemy submarines,' Roberts said. The Navy and environmental groups have been sparring for years over the health effects of the sonar on sea life. The Navy says it already takes steps to minimize the impact on whales, dolphins and other mammals and that the training is vital to national security. The National Resources Defence Council had brought the lawsuit and successfully persuaded lower federal courts in California to impose restrictions. A federal court in San Francisco ruled in February that the Navy must adhere to rules on the powerful sonar for tracking submarines, including establishing a buffer zone within 20 kilometres of the California shore, and shutting the system down if marine mammals are spotted within 2,000 metres of the ships. The Supreme Court concluded the lower court 'abused its discretion' by imposing the restrictions. The Navy says it has instituted 29 measures to protect sea life, including lookout stations, passive acoustic monitoring for marine mammals and the setting up of safety zones to reduce the sonar power or shut it down if marine life is spotted.

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brahmanNov 12th, 2008 - 17:49:23

Disgusting but not unexpected from the current retards on the supreme court.

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hairgalNov 12th, 2008 - 18:31:24

I'm no scientist, naval minion, or court justice yet even I know this decision is very wrong no matter how many precautions the navy will implement to protect sea dwellers. Sound in water creates vibrations, cause and effect, of which will only be denied in the future for every whale that beaches itself, the lessening of pods, malnurished calves, or disappearing reef life. Get real, since 1970 we have faced the threat of environmental demise and little has been done to prevent that, as we see today. For shame on this decision!

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Louis FortinNov 12th, 2008 - 19:46:17

For years the facts about the influence of Very LOW frequency Waves in the oceans on sea mamals have been known .Beached whales (lost whales leaders),they die and who cares,i do not know because i dont know anyboby who knows about this stuff.The media is working on other things and do not represent the whales in any way .When they will be gone the media wont matter in anyway , It will be to late for all of us earthly humans and every animals thrusted on us by god .Mercy on us for our sins of omission.Subs never did any good to anybody anyway ,prove me wrong if you can ,propaganda (security)experts.Ignorance is the mother of all sins and we will all pay for it in some way . Louis, Whale enthusiast in despair.

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Hugh M.Nov 13th, 2008 - 10:53:12

How we treat our fellow animals is indicative of how we treat our fellow humans. Need to ignore the needs and health of the poor and powerless to accomplish some military or political goal? No problem.

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SP4: finallyNov 16th, 2008 - 01:58:35

...at least there are five individuals who refuse to bow to unfounded pseudoscience. There is hope yet, for the world.

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