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A Quiet Place for Whales

By petnoyer on January 3, 2007.

Natural Resources Defense Council is leading the fight to make the Pacific Ocean off California a more peaceful place for migrating whales. So far, they have strong support from the California Coastal Commission, who denied the US Navy sonar training exercises once before. A review is due on January 10. NRDC is asking for your support in an email campaign below.

Dear California NRDC BioGems Defender,

We won the first round in our local fight against deadly sonar. But round two starts today -- and we really need you to make your voice heard!

Last month, NRDC Members and activists sent thousands of messages urging the California Coastal Commission to require the U.S. Navy to protect whales and other marine life from lethal sonar during training exercises.

As a result, the commission unanimously REFUSED to approve the Navy's plan to blast California's coastlines with ear-splitting sonar -- since the Navy had failed to commit to life-saving precautions. That's terrific news.

But the fight isn't over! On January 10, the commission will again review the Navy's sonar application and Californians like you must ensure that the agency upholds its commitment to protect the state's coastal waters.

Please go to http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/biogems_whales_0107
right now and tell the commission to demand that the Navy implement key safety measures to protect whales during sonar training!

Whales around the world have been found dead or dying after being blasted with mid-frequency military sonar. The Navy itself has conceded the lethal impacts of this technology, but it has not taken the common-sense steps necessary to protect whales and other marine life.

For example, the Navy should stay out of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and other important whale habitat; power down its sonar during night-time exercises or in other conditions of low visibility; and enforce adequate "safety zones" around sonar vessels.

Please go to http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/biogems_whales_0107 and demand that the coastal commission refuse to approve the Navy's sonar application without the addition of specific, life-saving protections.

Thank you for helping to defend marine mammals.

Sincerely,

Frances Beinecke
President
Natural Resources Defense Council

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