Rimpac latest

The Marine Connection was delighted to receive the news that a US judge has issued a temporary restraining order to stop the US Navy using high-intensity sonar during training near Hawaii because it might hurt or even kill whales and other marine mammals. (see 23 June 23/5 May 5 - Marine Impacts / Latest News).

District Court Central District of California said the Natural Resources Defence Council, which sought the injunction, offered "considerable convincing scientific evidence" showing military sonar can harm marine animals.

"Fortunately this country has more than one law against the needless infliction of harm to endangered whales and the environment," said Joel Reynolds, lawyer for the environmental group.

Last week, the US Defence Department, for the first time, exempted the Navy for six months from the Marine Mammal Protection Act, nullifying challenges by the environmental group under that law. But challenges under the National Environmental Policy Act remained, and the court said the Navy may not have fulfilled obligations under that statute.