Can Active Sonar Really Hurt Marine Life?
At this point, the answer is yes. Although the U.S. military doesn’t seem to wish to accept this reality, the evidence is pretty conclusive at this point. The Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission is made up of 200 of the world’s leading whale biologists. Their recent report claimed evidence linking active sonar to whale strandings is “very convincing and appears overwhelming.” How Does Military Active Sonar Hurt Marine Life? Now, we’re not talking the little fish finders on fishing vessels here. We’re talking long-range military active sonar. The type of sonar that sends huge, powerful sound wave booms through tens or hundreds of miles of ocean. Each loudspeaker in the LFA system’s wide array, for example, can generate 215 decibels’ worth — sound as intense as that produced by a twin-engine fighter jet at takeoff. Some mid-frequency sonar systems can put out over 235 decibels, as loud as a Saturn V rocket at launch. Even 100 miles from the LFA system, sound lev
