Bitton, Joanna

Whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals depend on their hearing to survive, but human technology is now invading their world. Military sonar used by the US Navy to detect submarines emit noises as loud as rocket blasts. These noises infiltrate the ocean and marine mammals get disoriented, have permanent hearing loss, get stranded, or die. With practical safety procedures in place, whales and other marine mammals can be protected from navy sonar. Striking a balance between the nation’s security and the safety of marine mammals can be achieved by passing legislation that takes into consideration both needs. With quality policies such as reducing sonar usage in times of peace in locations that have a high concentration of marine mammals and avoiding sonar use in areas in which they migrate to and feed from, marine mammals can be protected. These safety measures can be passed by using adjudicatory actions.