Hearing Loss of Whales

Hayden Panettiere has signed on as a spokesman for Save the Whales Again, an organization that is protesting against whale and dolphin slaughter

Whales are large migratory sleek marine animals that roam the vast ocean. They are important to the environment in which they live in, and without them the food chain would be greatly altered. Whales are unique creatures, like a few number of other mammals, whales heavily rely on their hearing. “Whales use their exquisitely sensitive hearing like humans use their eyes--their hearing helps them follow migratory routes, locate one another over great distances, find food, and care for their young” ( The National Resources Defense Council 3). Their hearing and survival is now in danger of extinction. The biggest threat comes from the Navy, and its testing and use of sonar. Although, there are many other threats to whales such as poaching and oil and gas companies, sonar is posing the biggest threat today.

The Navy’s testing of sonar in ocean waters, is damaging many species of whales, and even other marine organisms such as,” dozens of species of whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions” (Mears 1). Sonar disrupts a whales living environment which has many impacts on their survival. For example, the sound that is released from sonar “has been shown to divert whales from their migration paths, stop singing, and induce a range of other effects, from distressed behavior to panic” (The National Resources Defense Council 4), states The National Resources Defense Council in the article Navy Sonar System Threatens Whales. Sonar can affect whales in a variety of different ways. Although, how sonar will affect whales that are present during testing can differ from one another, there are some prominent effects that can be seen. The population of whales’ may decrease in numbers, hearing and loss of singing may occur, and lastly a constant threat to their living environment is always lurking.

Since it is believed that sonar does affect whales it is important that how sonar was developed and works is understood. In the journal article A Brief History of Active Sonar by Angela D’Amico and Richard Pittenger there were two events that promoted the development of sonar. “ The first was the loss of the HMS Titanic to an iceberg during her maiden voyage on 15 April 1912 and two, allied shipping losses to U-boat attacks during World War 1” ( D’Amico 426). Reginald A. Fessenden was the first inventor to develop a “successful underwater transducer with a 540-Hz electro dynamically driven circular plate” (D’Amico 426). During World War 1 submarines played important roles which showed the need for echo- ranging. The Allied Submarine Detection Investigation Committee (ASDIC) was “the most important echo-ranging system to emerge after World War 1” (D’Amico 426). During the Cold War developments of active scanning sonar were important to keep up with the changing submarines. “ Active sonar technology development was the advent of scanning sonar to compensate for faster submarine speeds and the need to switch rapidly from long-range to short-range detection of an attacking submarine” (D’ Amico 427). In recent decades development of “low-frequency active sonar (LFAS)” (D’Amico 427) was needed in order to compensate with the ever changing submarines. This is especially important as both “nuclear and diesel-electric submarines operating on batteries became progressively and simultaneously quieter and faster, and thus more difficult to detect in a timely manner” (D’Amico 430).

Sonar was mainly used because “sound uniquely penetrates ocean waters for long ranges, and changes to a sound signal as it propagates were therefore exploited as key cues that could be used to image the otherwise impenetrable depths” (D’Amico 431). Without the use of sonar it would be impossible for submarines to detect other enemy submarines in the water. Having the ability to detect other ships and objects is important because otherwise there may be head on collisions between submarines and other objects.

Sonar has damaging effects on whales that can greatly decrease the population of a variety of whale species. With more and more use of sonar the threat of extinction to whales is escalating. “

In Alaska’s Cook Inlet, the beluga whale population has plummeted to fewer than 400 animals” (NRDC 1). Beluga whales are not the only whale species experiencing population dips. Beaked whales are also suffering from sonar uses. This is noticeable because “Beaked whale mass strandings are relatively rare events” (Filadelfo 435). Beaked whale strandings were noticed after an event of the Navy conducting military exercises. “Within hours of the ships’ passages, 14 beaked whales were found stranded along the shores of Abaco and Grand Bahama to the north, and three single animal strandings of other species were reported nearby” ( Filadelfo 435) according to the article Correlating Military Sonar Use with Beaked Whale Mass Standings: What do the Historical Data Show by Ronald Filadelfo. In another case, The National Resources Defense Council states in their article, Navy Sonar System Threatens Whales, that “of the 13 beaked whales that stranded in the Bahamas after exposure to active sonar, seven died” ( The National Resources Defense Council 2). If sonar use continues to happen in coastal areas, where it is believed that there is a great diversity of organisms then decreases in whale species may continue to be on the downfall and eventually lead to extinction. Also “in 2000, 16 whales beached themselves in the Bahamas, and the Navy concluded too many sonar ships had been operating in a narrow underwater channel” (Mears 1). It is evident that the use of sonar is diminishing the population of whales around the world. With the continued increase of sonar the amount of beached whales will continue to escalate until safer methods are developed.

These beached whales died as a result from sonar use

Hearing is essential for whales to survive. Hearing “helps them follow migratory routes, locate one another over great distances, find food and care for their young” ( The National Resources Defense Council 3) without this sensory function whales may cease to exist. The best way to understand how important hearing is to whales, is best stated by a scientist, “A deaf whale is a dead whale” (The National Resources Defense Council 3). Hearing is not only damaged by sonar, but also singing. In the article, Navy Sonar System Threatens Whales, “researchers have found that many humpback whales cease singing when exposed to an LFA sonar signal that is hundreds of miles distant” (The National Resources Defense Council 1).

Not only can sonar harm hearing it can also give whales something that if referred to as the bends. The bends is mostly associated with “scuba divers who rise to the ocean surface too quickly”(Roach 1). Along with humans the bends can have significant health impacts on whales which can ultimately lead to death. Scientists did autopsies on beaked whales who washed up on shore and found “gas bubbles in blood vessels and hemorrhaged vital organs” (Roach 1), this is thought of to be a result of sonar testing in ocean waters. Although, most researchers and scientists can agree that there is a link between the use of military sonar and death of whales, Roger Gentry, a scientist with the National Marine Fisheries Service in Silver Spring, does not believe that sonar use can give whales the bends. Gentry states that “he is not certain the sonar causes an ailment similar to decompression sickness” (Roach 1).

The Navy, on the opposing side of the argument believes that it is important that sonar testing be allowed. Sonar is especially important in times of war. Restrictions on testing and use of sonar could be a great disadvantage for the U.S. Vice Adm. Samuel J. Locklear, Commander, U.S. Third Fleet states that “These restrictions make it very difficult to conduct the kind of realistic, integrated training exercises that ensure the combat effectiveness of our force” (Navy of Office Information 1). In the decision of the ninth circuit U.S. Court of Appeals the Navy argues that “improving antisubmarine warfare (ASW) is the Pacific fleet’s top “war-fighting” priority because of the proliferation of extremely quiet diesel electric submarines throughout the world” (Lower Court Hearing 1). Without these tests the survival of the United States against submarine enemies would suffer and national security would be at risk.

This map shows migration routes of whales and where sonar is being tested in relation to these migration routes

The Navy is also facing a resistance from the courts when dealing with the use of sonar in ocean waters. They are worried that the “courts are protecting sea creatures rather than people” (Mears 1). For example, “U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper said the underwater sound waves could harm nearly 30 species of marine mammals, including five species of endangered whales” (Egelko 1). She also stated that the “Navy’s protective measures were “woefully inadequate and ineffectual”” (Egelko 1). Although, some courts are siding with the whales over the Navy, there are many that have mixed feelings about what would be better, save the whales or protect national security. Justice Stephen Breyer believes that it “is necessary to train crews to find enemy subs” (Mears 2) but, agrees with his colleagues that “the whole point of an environmental impact study is to asses potential harm before exercises begin” (Mears 2).

Environmentalists are worried that the Navy is ignoring its impacts of its sonar testing on marine animals, while the Navy is weighing the “safety of our warriors. And of our country” ( Egelko 1). A balance between sonar testing and environmental concerns is needed in order for both sides to be satisfied. The Navy is working on timing its testing when marine organisms, such as whales, are not present in the area. Spokesman Gureck, of the Pacific Fleet stated that the “Navy employs extensive mitigation measures, approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service; to minimize the risk to marine life whenever active sonar is used” (Egelko 2). The navy recognizes that sonar does have some impacts on whales and other marine organisms, but it cannot give up testing completely. Progress is being made to balance the testing and follow environmental regulations. More precautions are being taken, and “ a significant investment in the science, spending $26 million on marine mammal research this year” (Navy of Office Information 1).

In conclusion, there is strong evidence that the military use of sonar has resulted in mass whale strandings. Along with mass strandings, dips in population, hearing and singing loss, the general survival or these magnificent mammals is in jeopardy. Although, there is not a direct solution to prevent these consequences without jeopardizing national security, new methods and better communication between the Navy and environmental groups is a must. Without this, there could be a possible extinction of whales in which can never be brought back to existence.

But, without the existence of the Navy and sonar testing the United States would be at a great disadvantage in the fight against terror. Without sonar the U.S. would not be at a level playing field against other countries. Even though, it is important that the Navy be up to par in national security it is also important that the environment should not suffer as a result of these tests. However, the Navy is trying to cooperate with environmental groups, to do testing when there are no whales or other marine species present in the area. This way few to no marine organisms will be harmed by sonar testing. The effort that the Navy is making shows a promising future to whales and other organisms.

A comical perspective on how sonare affects whales