Navy's Plan To Protect Marine Mammals Under Scrutiny

Training Exercises and Sonar Usage

• The USS Higgins navigates Southern California waters during training.

• Active sonar, specifically the Kingfisher, is deployed to detect mines.

• Sonar sounds can be harmful to whales; crew monitors a map to evaluate sonar usage safety.

Environmental Response and Protocols

• The Navy developed sonar protocols over years in response to environmental lawsuits.

• Intense training occurs in waters between California and Hawaii, significant for Pacific deployments.

• Some marine mammals like beaked whales, blue whales, and humpback whales rely on sound communication.

Impact of Sonar on Marine Life

• Bret Hart from the Center for Biological Diversity highlights the critical nature of sound for marine mammals.

• Damage to hearing capabilities impacts their communication and foraging, presenting life-threatening challenges.

Legal Developments and Settlement

• A 2015 lawsuit settlement mandated reduced active sonar usage and designated off-limits habitats for military training.

• Blue whale foraging areas off San Diego are included in habitats with restrictions.

Proposed Changes to Sonar Protocols

• Navy's new proposed plan intends to ease some restrictions established in prior legal agreements.

• Alex Stone emphasizes scientific evaluation in developing the new plan, focusing on practical implementation of mitigation measures.

Environmentalists' Concerns

• Environmental advocates argue that the new plan undermines previous victories in marine life protection efforts.

• Advocates want stricter limits on sonar and explosions in known marine mammal congregation areas.

• Resistance from the Navy to relocate exercises for logistical efficiency.

Training Locations and Restrictions

• USS Higgins remained near the shore, facilitating access for Naval Academy Midshipmen post-exercises.

• Alex Stone explains the impracticality of conducting training far from the shore due to efficiency concerns.

Active vs. Passive Sonar

• Active sonar provides precise tracking through high-intensity sound, while passive sonar listens to sounds in the ocean.

• Navy-trained spotters are required to monitor for nearby marine mammals, but may miss endangered species like beaked whales.

Regulatory Oversight and Future Developments

• The California Coastal Commission rejected the Navy's plan unanimously; discussions continue between the two parties.

• Navy's approval isn't contingent on California's decision but does require National Marine Fisheries Service approval.

• Current sonar plan expires on December 25th, with potential for the new plan to face legal challenges.

Training Exercises and Sonar Usage

The USS Higgins, a guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy, regularly navigates the diverse and complex waters of Southern California during critical training operations. Within this training scope, active sonar technology, specifically the Kingfisher system, is deployed to efficiently detect underwater mines, ensuring maritime safety and operational readiness. However, the operation of sonar systems has raised significant environmental concerns; sonar sounds can be harmful to marine life, particularly whales, which rely heavily on sound for communication and navigation. To mitigate these risks, the crew of USS Higgins continuously monitors a detailed map that evaluates sonar usage safety, ensuring adherence to protocols aimed at protecting marine ecosystems.

Environmental Response and Protocols

Over the years, the Navy has developed comprehensive sonar protocols in response to numerous environmental lawsuits that highlighted the adverse effects of military sonar on marine mammals. Intense training exercises often occur in strategically significant waters between California and Hawaii, which serve as key areas for Pacific deployments. Certain marine mammals, including beaked whales, blue whales, and humpback whales, depend on sound communication for their survival, making the impact of sonar all the more critical to address.

Impact of Sonar on Marine Life

Bret Hart from the Center for Biological Diversity underscores the crucial role of sound in the lives of marine mammals, emphasizing that damage to their hearing capabilities can severely hinder their ability to communicate and forage for food. This impairment poses life-threatening challenges, as many species may struggle to survive in their natural environments due to disrupted natural behaviors.

Legal Developments and Settlement

In 2015, a landmark lawsuit settlement resulted in significant changes to sonar usage practices, mandating a reduction in active sonar deployments and designating specific off-limits habitats for military training operations. Notably, habitats crucial for blue whale foraging near San Diego are included in these restricted areas, highlighting the intersection between military needs and environmental protection.

Proposed Changes to Sonar Protocols

The Navy is currently proposing changes to its sonar protocols aimed at easing some restrictions established by previous legal agreements, which advocates argue could jeopardize hard-fought protections for marine life. Alex Stone emphasizes the importance of scientific evaluation in the development of the new plan, advocating for innovative and practical mitigation measures that balance military efficiency with environmental stewardship.

Environmentalists' Concerns

Environmental advocates voice strong concerns that the proposed changes could undermine the victories achieved in protecting marine ecosystems. There is a growing demand for stricter limits on sonar usage, particularly in known areas of congregation for marine mammals. Additionally, there is notable resistance from the Navy regarding the relocation of training exercises due to logistical efficiency, which complicates efforts to protect vulnerable species.

Training Locations and Restrictions

Throughout the training operations, the USS Higgins remains in close proximity to the shore to facilitate easy access for Naval Academy Midshipmen post-exercises. Alex Stone elaborates on the impracticality of conducting extensive training far from the shoreline, citing efficiency concerns as a primary reason for this operational choice.

Active vs. Passive Sonar

Active sonar, characterized by its ability to provide precise tracking through the emission of high-intensity sound waves, is contrasted with passive sonar, which exists as a listening mechanism for ambient sounds in the ocean. To enhance the safety of marine mammals, Navy-trained spotters are deployed to monitor for nearby marine life during exercises; however, there are inherent limitations, as these spotters may overlook endangered species such as beaked whales, thereby necessitating continuous improvements in monitoring practices.

Regulatory Oversight and Future Developments

The California Coastal Commission has unanimously rejected the Navy's latest sonar plan, invoking a need for further discussions between the two parties. Although the Navy’s future operational decisions are not solely contingent on California’s approval, obtaining authorization from the National Marine Fisheries Service remains a critical step. Notably, the current sonar plan is set to expire on December 25th, raising the possibility that the new plan could face legal challenges if environmental concerns persist.