The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA Fisheries has issued regulations and letters of authorization for U.S. Navy training and testing activities, November 12.
The regulations require the Navy to use measures to minimize impacts to marine mammals while conducting training and testing activities in Navy ranges in state waters off Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and northern California.
The Navy requested the authorizations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act because the sound generated by mid-frequency active sonar and the pressure generated by detonating explosives might cause temporary hearing loss or other injury to marine mammals.
Under the new NOAA guidelines, onboard observers are authorized to shut down sonar operations if marine mammals are seen within designated zones and prevent detonations when animals are detected within a certain distance.
The measures included in the rule should minimize the potential for injury and significantly reduce the number of marine mammals exposed to levels of sound likely to cause behavioral reactions and temporary loss of hearing sensitivity.
The authorization includes an adaptive management component that requires the Navy and NOAA Fisheries to meet yearly to discuss new marine mammal science, Navy research and development, and to review Navy monitoring and exercise reports to determine if mitigation or monitoring measures need to be modified.
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Image: US Navy