Sonar vs. Whales
On June 23, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal case requested by the U.S. Navy. The Navy seeks to have restrictions on the use of sonar equipment off the coast of California lifted. The restrictions were put in place after environmental groups sued the Navy claiming the high-frequency sonar waves cause harm to whales and dolphins.
Fast Facts
- Case name: "Winter v. Natural Resources Defense Council Inc."
- Case scheduled to be heard in the fall of 2008
- Original injunction: August of 2007
- Restrictions: No use of sonar within 12 miles of coast
- Required to shut down when marine mammals are within 2,200 yards of sonar equipment
- Sonar potentially harmful to marine mammals
- Sonar disrupts whales ability to communicate and navigate1
- President Bush signed exemption for U.S. Navy in January of 2008
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