SEATTLE (AP) — NOAA’s Fisheries is requiring the U.S. Navy to minimize impact to marine mammals when using sonar and explosives during training exercises off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and northern California.
The federal agency said Tuesday the Navy must establish a safety zone round vessels using sonar, use spotters to shut down sonar operations if marine mammals are seen in safety zones and not detonate explosives when animals are detected within a certain distance.
The Navy requested authorization from NOAA because noise from mid-frequency sonar and explosives may affect the behavior of some marine mammals or cause temporary hearing loss.
The Navy approved a plan last month to expand training activities and weapons testing in the sea and air in the Northwest Training Range Complex.
NOAA says it does not expect the exercises to result in serious injury or death to marine mammals.
