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Ned Potter is the science correspondent for ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson." He has reported on such topics as space exploration, the human genome and climate change.
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The Whale
January 17, 2008 11:51 AM
Which is more important, national security or the health of 35 species of whales and other sea creatures who happen to get in the way? It's not that simple.
You'll recall that President Bush issued a memorandum yesterday, giving the U.S. Navy an exemption from the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 so that it can conduct two anti-submarine exercises off the California coast, using sonar that is believed in some cases to have forced whales to beach themselves and die.
The exercises had not actually been stopped by a court order, but the Navy had been required to obey major restrictions against using sonar if a whale was in the area.
Some extra notes that came along as we slammed together last night's piece for World News:
Marine biologists say it's clear that mid-range sonar harms whales, and the Navy concedes this too. But both the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Navy say they are not sure of the mechanism.
Perhaps, suggested the NRDC, the whales are so undone by the blasts of undersea noise that they race to the surface and give themselves a version of the bends. Perhaps, if a pod leader is sickened, others in the group will follow it--even onto a shoreline.
The Navy says the science is uncertain, and it concedes only one case, in the Bahamas, where sonar combined with other factors to cause whales' deaths. More on their point of view is HERE.
Court orders (the most recent was Jan. 3) "created a significant and unreasonable risk that the Navy will not be able to conduct effective sonar training necessary to certify strike groups for deployment in support of world-wide operational and combat activities," says the Navy
"It's important that the Navy be Able to send trained sailors to sea to protect us and our interests around the glob," said retired Admiral Stephen Pietropaoli, now Executive Director of the Navy League of the United States. "They cannot do that if there are excessive, unnecessary restrictions on their ability to do realistic training at sea."
"It's mystifying what they're thinking," said Joel Reynolds of the NRDC. He argues that, unquestonably, the Navy needs to be able to run practice exercises; it just needs to pay more attention to the environment than it has. "Our position is that whales and other marine life should not have to die for practice." (Take a look at a past summary by the NRDC HERE.)
The White House does not have the power to override a court order, and the President's declaration did not try. But it gave Navy lawyers some powerful ammunition to use in court.
Which is where the issue has now returned. Thoughts welcome as always.
January 17, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (11)
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It's amazing the number of ways we've found to corrupt our environment and impact the life-forms therein. Granted, there are mitigating circumstances in this case, but, ultimately, we end up on the short end of the stick. Ironically, so do the creatures in the environment.
Posted by: Andy | Jan 17, 2008 12:26:17 PM
As a former Congressional Advisor to the US Delegation to the International Whaling Commission who worked to stop commercial whaling, I find I agree with the President's action. The Navy is already doing enough to insure the safety of cetaceans in the training areas and is doing the research necessary to base future actions on science not on what makes some special interest groups' feel good.
Posted by: Charles | Jan 17, 2008 12:56:21 PM
All hail the chief! This man is consistent. He has never made a decision that respects or protects the environment. Who knows, maybe he is putting together a photographic album for future Bush generations so that they may at least view photographs of all the species that will no longer exist. Thanks, Mr. President!
Posted by: dano | Jan 17, 2008 12:57:58 PM
On one hand, I can understand the Navy's need for unrestricted access to conduct its maneuvers; on the other, I don't understand why innocent sea life might be harmed in the process. Isn't there some kind of sonar which doesn't affect whales?
Posted by: chuck | Jan 17, 2008 1:31:05 PM
There is nothing in America today that is ethical or forward moving. From Union arrogance in hollywood to the supreme court dictating that criminal conspirators in the stock market cannot be sued.
It is a shame W.'s people cannot grasp that "getting away" with abuse of power at the margins, is exactly why his Presidency and our country is in free fall of doomed expectations and a hopeless collapse of confidence.
They are so obsessed with being right and strong that they have abandoned being righteous and humble.
Posted by: blogofacowboy | Jan 17, 2008 2:40:43 PM
Grow-up people! These policies would work in green la-la land where everything is plush and these regulations actually serve a purpose.
In the real world, wars don't wait for stupid ocean mammles to cross. I think a couple of dead whales is a small price to pay for a well prepared navy. You never know when you might need one. If you're house is blown-up, I think a whale would be the last thing on your mind.
Posted by: michael charlton | Jan 17, 2008 4:35:25 PM
get real people. read the info from nrdc and you'll see its not shutting down the navy in any way - just getting them to conduct testing away from the major migratory paths and home grounds of the whales - the navy can take precautions - they just don't want to bother - like the prez doesn't want to 'bother' with the majority of our civil rights.
Posted by: disgusted with bush | Jan 17, 2008 5:12:54 PM
Better title would be; Bush shows contempt for whales and bad judgement - AGAIN!
Posted by: LongT | Jan 17, 2008 6:49:22 PM
When was the last time we had a war with any country that uses subs? I thought most of the countries with that tech level were civilized enough not to... Of course we're still fighting wars and selling weapons to other countries... Sucks that our leaders can't push for peace without holding a gun in their hands...
Posted by: Shaun | Jan 17, 2008 9:47:04 PM
I agree that there needs to be a compramise. The whales need protecting. The Navy needs to train. I don't know why Bush can't handle the Navy going a little farther out of their way to not disturb the whales. It's what's been done for some time now anyway. Why fight it now?
Posted by: Lawrence | Jan 17, 2008 11:05:53 PM
So, without sure knowledge the battle lines are drawn.
Seems to me that none of the parties know what is really going on and that it is time to do some serious research into the effects of SONAR on marine creatures.
However, it should not take this sort of politically motivated - or maybe politically spun - nonsense to go and do the science.
One thought occurs though; maybe GWB declared war on them thar al quaeda whales and is trying to beach them all at GITMO!
Posted by: Andy Clark | Jan 18, 2008 9:04:15 AM
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