US Navy Sued in Hawaii by Environmentalist Groups

In order to protect marine mammals, environmental groups are suing the United States Navy, according to an Associated Press story on Yahoo News.

The environmental groups are attempting to stop the naval exercises that are conducted off the coast of Hawaii. The lawsuit is also naming the National Marine Fisheries Service as a defendant. National Marine Fisheries Service awards permits to the navy for the underwater sonar exercises. The navy just started seeking permits for sonar exercises last year.

Earthjustice sued the navy in federal court in Honolulu. The law suit states that the navy plans to conduct approximately twelve sonar warfare exercises near Hawaii within the next year. Earthjustice is representing five different groups, including the Ocean Mammal Institute.

The groups want to stop the sonar exercises being conducted by the United States Navy, in particular. The activists hope to block the navy sonar exercises until the navy adopts new procedures that will help protect dolphins and whales. The environmentalists cite studies that report that naval sonar can injure or even kill whales and dolphins. The navy conducts the sonar exercises to practice hunting for submarines. Other anti-submarine exercises are being challenged in different regions, but this is the only case so far that is attempting to make the navy change its sonar exercise procedures.

According to a spokesperson for the United States Navy, the military complies with all laws and regulations when conducting its anti-submarine sonar exercises. The spokesperson went on to say that two sonar warfare exercises have already been conducted this year with no problems and that the navy takes great care not to harm any marine mammals.