Environmental Group, NRDC, Files Lawsuit Against National Marine Fisheries Service

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), known as the nation's most effective environmental action group, has filed a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Services, citing the use of sonar technology for the U.S. Navy's training exercises. The NRDC says the use of this technology violates a federal law.

The NRDC claims that the training exercises that incorporate sonar technology will be responsible for the deaths of 155 marine mammals and at least 2,000 permanent injuries. The Navy's training exercises will be practiced off of the coasts of California and Hawaii. Such harm to marine life is projected to constitute a 1,100% increase over a period of five years.

On top of that, the NRDC also revealed that the most affected species will be beaked whales and endangered blue whales. That's not all, either. In the past, there have been 10 cases of beaked whale deaths along with 13 cases of blue whale deaths caused by vessel strikes taking place during such naval training exercises.

The lawsuit cites other potential violations by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The NRDC questioned the Navy's claim that such naval exercises abided by the rules of the California Coastal Management Program, despite the California Coastal Commission's rejection of that claim. Additionally, the NRDC says that the fisheries service is also violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which states, "All marine mammals are protected under the MMPA ... Congress passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 based on the following findings and policies:

• Some marine mammal species or stocks may be in danger of extinction or depletion as a result of human activities;
• These species or stocks must not be permitted to fall below their optimum sustainable population level;
• Measures should be taken to replenish these species or stocks;
• There is inadequate knowledge of the ecology and population dynamics; and

Marine mammals have proven to be resources of great international significance."

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court of San Francisco, and as a response to the lawsuit, the Navy and the fisheries service announced that their safety guidelines will ensure the protection of the marine mammals in question.

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