Archive for Wednesday 5th February 2003 - The humpback whale
Plans for a global submarine detection system are threatening the humpback whale with extinction.

The US, Nato and Britain are testing Low Frequency Active Sonar, to cover 80 per cent of the ocean floor. This will wreak havoc amongst all whales and dolphins

Scientists have already traced the cause of several whale and dolphin beachings to this sonar, developed by the American Navy. The humpback is particularly at risk because of it migration path – the longest of any mammal – from Central America to Antarctica.

The humpback uses a mysterious and eerily beautiful song to communicate. But this also makes it vulnerable to the military detection system. Since the late 1990s reports of abandoned humpback calves have been blamed on the sonar. Navy divers exposed to its intense sound have suffered serious health problems. Prolonged exposure can result in lung damage, haemorrhaging and death.

At 240 decibels, the sound level is double what is normally tolerable to humans. Whales have even lower tolerance. Campaigners say that whales’ ears and brains can suffer serious damage above 180 decibels.

Campaigning groups are questioning the military justification for such sonar defences now the Cold War is over.

Mark Simmonds, of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, says: “We are very concerned about the world-wide proliferation of military sonars. The consquences are not entirely clear but the indications are alarming.” For more information visit the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society’s website - www.wdcs.org. To petition against the deployment of this destructive sonar, visit - www.silentoceans.com

Mark Winter

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