US navy ‘wrong’ to use sonar that harms whales

The US navy was wrongly allowed to use sonar that could harm whales and other marine life, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Sonar, which is used to detect submarines, can injure whales, seals, dolphins and walruses and disrupt their feeding and mating. The 2012 rules adopted by the National Marine Fisheries Service permitted navy sonar use to affect about 30 whales and two dozen pinnipeds, marine mammals with front and rear flippers such as seals and sea lions, each year.

The US navy was required to shut down or delay sonar use if a marine mammal was detected near the ship.

The appellate panel sent the matter back to the lower court for further proceedings.