WASHINGTON: The American Navy has agreed to limit the use of sonar that may inadvertently harm whales and dolphins in waters near Hawaii and California.
A federal judge in Honolulu signed the deal between the Navy and environmental groups on Monday. It restricts or bans the use of mid-frequency active sonar and explosives used in training exercises.
Campaigners say that sonar disrupts the feeding of marine mammals, and can even cause deafness or death.
An explosives training exercise in San Diego four years ago killed four dolphins, Earthjustice lawyer David Henkin said when announcing the agreement.
He said the deal means that the Navy cannot use sonar in a well-known habitat for beaked whales between Santa Catalina Island and San Nicolas Island. Sonar is banned in a blue whale feeding area near San Diego. Sonar and explosives training is banned on the eastern side of the Big Island in Hawaii. The number of major training exercises between Maui and the Big Island will be set. Any injuries or deaths will be investigated by the National Marine Fisheries Service
Henkin said that these measures would bring down the number of injuries and deaths of marine wildlife.
