Study: No conclusive link between Navy sonar and dead porpoises

[Ediacara]

Monday, February 09, 2004 - Page updated at 11:06 A.M.

Study: No conclusive link between Navy sonar and dead porpoises

By Ian Ith
Seattle Times staff reporter

SEATTLE — Studies of dead porpoises found off San Juan Island last spring following a controversial testing of U.S. Navy sonar in Haro Strait have found no conclusive evidence linking the deaths directly to the Navy's sonar use, a report issued this morning by the National Marine Fisheries Service says.

But the study also could not rule out that the porpoises might have suffered serious, and perhaps fatal, hearing damage from the loud naval sonar.

"There isn't any smoking gun," said Brian Gorman, a NMFS spokesman.

Instead, the fisheries service said that two of the porpoises had died of "blunt force trauma," or blows that could have been suffered by any number of things, from being struck by ships to beaching themselves. Three others died of natural disease. The scientists said they could not find the cause of death for the other six animals because their remains were too decomposed.

More at the Seattle Times

[Barrett808]

1. When the USS Shoup passed through the strait, radar blazing

Marine mammals of various sorts were desperately trying to get out of the water -- orcas were observed spyhopping frantically and darting to and fro. People could hear the squealing sonar in the air.

So color me skeptical.

[bahrbearian]

4. But it wasn't conclusive.

what they are looking for in an actual sonar wave striking an causing bunt force trama on film, then maybe they'd consider it.

[leesa]

9. It's even taken out a diver near San Diego. I worked with a researcher

in Hawaii and she said the diver happened to be in the water when they blasted the sonar and it damn near killed him from the concussion. He is disabled now. Whales became disoriented and separated from their calves (which means sure death for the calves). They have burst eardrums which for them is life threatening and they hemorrhage into their lungs.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. No link except that the porpoises die after they use Sonar.

I would have no reason to believe that the Navy would be honest about this.

[arcane1]

3. at the end of the article:

"The report notes, however, that acoustic trauma can be difficult to detect, especially in carcasses that have decomposed.

"The possibility of acoustic trauma exacerbating or compounding the conditions that (the team) found cannot be excluded in any of the animals," the report said."

this is like OJ finding the real killer, IMHO

[Fargin Ice Hole]

5. More Fuqin Lies!!!!!!!!!!

We actually pay these Assholes to build weapons that kill/harm creatures and eachother all the while destroy the environment then have to pay another agency to clean up the mess they continuely make and they have the audacity to lie to us?

[MasonJar]

6. This government and all its branches do just what the neo-cons

want. Look what happens to you if you do not.

[KT2000]

7. The work of great scientists!

My eye.

This is a familiar refrain from any environmental cause of illness and injury. Since it is impossible to duplicate the actual experience of humans or whales or porpoises - there will never be a "conclusive link."
Let the maiming, injuries and illnesses continue on - for profit of course.
Disgraceful.

[leesa]

8. No dead porpoises and whales just keep happening in the vicinity of

the sonar. It's the damnedest thing!

[progressivebydesign]

10. 11 die at the same time of trauma and natural causes?

Oh.. yeah. This is such bullshit. Inconclusive because they were too decomposed? Liars. There is a special place in hell for people who hurt animals..