Active Military Sonar and Marine Mammals: Events and References
Abstract
The deployment of active sonar by the U.S. Navy and its potential impacts on marine mammals has been an ongoing issue of intense debate, regulatory, legislative, and judicial activity; and international concern. Some peacenme use of military sonar has been regulated under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and other statutes due to concerns that active military sonars are operated at frequencies used by some cetaceans (i.e., whales, porpoises, and dolphins), and their high- intensity sound pulses may travel long distances in the ocean. There is also concern that sonar transmissions of sufficiently high intensity might physically damage the hearing in cetaceans or cause them to modify their behavior in ways that are detrimental. Although mid-frequency sonar has been implicated in several beaked whale strandings, there is scientific uncertainty surrounding the totality ofthe effects active sonar transmissions may have on marine mammals.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 22, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA472646
Entities
People
- Eugene H. Buck
- Kori Calvert
Organizations
- Library of Congress