Marine Mammals Casualties of US Navy Training Audrey Mcavoy - Associated Press
go to original August 30, 2013

Dolphins jump out of the water near the Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Alan Shepard. (U.S. Navy/MCS 2nd Class David Hooper)

Navy training and testing could inadvertently kill hundreds of whales and dolphins and injure thousands over the next five years, mostly as a result of detonating explosives underwater, according to two environmental impact statements released by the military Friday.

The Navy said that the studies focused on waters off the East Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, Southern California and Hawaii from 2014 through 2019, the main areas that the service branch tests equipment and trains sailors.

The studies were done ahead of the Navy applying to the National Marine Fisheries Service for permits for its activities. The Navy said that it if hadn't done so and was later found to have harmed marine mammals, it would be found in violation of federal environmental law and have to stop its training and testing.

Most of the deaths would come from explosives, though some might come from testing sonar or animals being hit by ships.

Read the rest at FOX News

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