WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society; Fears over Environmental Impact of New Navy Sonar

PORTSMOUTH, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 2004--As the UK Navy launches its new sonar system in Portsmouth today, WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, highlights the potential risk to marine life and calls for a full, public investigation into the environmental impact of the sonar.

Military sonars, designed to detect increasingly stealthy enemy submarines at distance, emit powerful, loud noise into the ocean. Amidst the growing evidence that loud noise can harm and potentially lead to the death of whales and dolphins, WDCS is concerned about the potential impact of this sonar on these animals and the wider marine environment. Along with other marine conservation organizations, WDCS has been calling for a public enquiry prior to the deployment of the UK's new sonar, known as 2087, however ministers have so far refused this request.

“We believe that the future of our oceans is a matter of significant public interest and hope that, via a public enquiry, we can learn more about the risk of sonars to whales, dolphins and other marine wildlife and also what mitigation measures the Royal Navy plans to implement.”

Mark Simmonds, WDCS's Director of Science, said: "We believe that the future of our oceans is a matter of significant public interest and hope that, via a public enquiry, we can learn more about the risk of sonars to whales, dolphins and other marine wildlife and also what mitigation measures the Royal Navy plans to implement."

Whilst 2087 has received little public attention, concerns about the potential impacts of a similar sonar used by the US, known as Low Frequency Active Sonar, led to a court judgment strictly limiting its use during peacetime.

Mark Simmonds continued: "The risks from powerful sonars to marine wildlife are currently unclear, but marine noise pollution has the capacity to disturb, displace or even directly physically harm animals. Low frequency noise, because of its ability to travel great distances, could cause widespread impacts that are also likely to be difficult to detect. We appreciate that this is a matter of national defence and that some aspects may be sensitive or secret. However recent correlations between naval activities and strandings of deep-diving beaked whales is a significant concern that should be reviewed."

The European Parliament has recently passed a resolution, calling on the twenty-five member states to immediately restrict the use of high-intensity naval sonars in their waters, until more is known about the harm it inflicts on marine life.