. | . |
US judge limits marine military sonar in California Los Angeles (AFP) Jan 3, 2008 A US federal judge on Thursday set limits for the use of marine sonar by the military in California, a practice environmentalists have long accused of putting sealife in danger. Judge Florence-Marie Cooper issued an injunction barring the navy from using mid-frequency active sonar when marine mammals are within 2,200 yards (meters) and requiring it to monitor the area for an hour to ensure no marine life is in harm's way. However, Cooper allowed the military to use the equipment within 12 miles (20 kilometers) of the coast, rejecting environmentalists' demands for a 25-mile (40-kilometer) exclusion zone. The National Resources Defense Council, which led the environmentalists' suit, called the decision a victory, while the navy said it planned to review the decision. Marine life advocates have argued since 2005 that the use of navy sonars was endangering whales' lives by causing them to become disoriented and stranded on beaches. In August, the San Francisco federal appeals court had overturned a ruling by Cooper that had banned the use of sonars off the coast of California, saying it was excessive. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Follow the Whaling Debate
'Croc-hunter' Irwin's family to campaign against Japanese whaling Sydney (AFP) Dec 27, 2007 "Crocodile hunter" Steve Irwin's family plans a campaign against Japanese whaling to show that scientific data about whales can be obtained without killing them, the Australian's widow said Thursday. |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |