The Navy vs. Whales

It seems like whales can’t get a fair break these days. Not only do they have to deal with the constant attention of Japanese whaling fleets (all in the name of research apparently) but now they seem to have made enemies of the US Navy and even George W. Bush.

The US Navy began conducting exercises using mid-frequency active sonar off the coast of California last year. Mid-frequency active sonar is used to search for submarines, but unfortunately has the side effect of causing permanent injury or death to whales and dolphins. After a series of legal battles it was decided that in order to protect the endangered species that live along the California coast the Navy should not use the sonar in close proximity to the coast or near whales. This decision was recently overturned by George W. Bush himself, in the interests of national security of course.

Unfortunately, the argument seems to have become one of protecting whales vs. national security, an argument that isn’t really based in reality. The Navy has only been asked to avoid using the potentially harmful sonar in the vicinity of whales and dolphins during training exercises, not during actual defense operations. This doesn’t really seem like a matter of national security to me, or many other people involved. It’s too bad that the Navy and the President don’t seem to agree. The situation is yet to be resolved but it’s expected that tomorrow a Federal judge will rule in favor of the whales.

What do you think? Let us know in the forum.