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Concerns about the possible impact on marine mammals of a major military exercise which has just taken place off western Scotland have resulted in calls from conservation groups for `full and transparent' Environmental Impact Assessments to be undertaken by the Ministry of Defence.
The Celtic League which monitored the Joint Warrior exercise noted quite early on that a focus of the exercise was on anti-submarine and maritime warfare. In addition to British and Nato warships there were considerable numbers of maritime reconnaissance aircraft from the United Kingdom, France and the United States
The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) which conducts regular boat surveys for whales and dolphins on the west coast of Scotland using observers and hydrophones (underwater microphones) say that during the exercise they observed two minke whales within an hour displaying 'unusual and worrying behaviour'. They monitored military sonar being used in the area which was sometimes 'so loud that they could not keep the headphones on'.
Both the HWDT and WDCS (Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society) have repeated earlier calls for a full Environmental Impact Assessment to be carried out.
There is growing evidence of military sonar impacting disastrously on marine life and with a further phase of the Joint Warrior exercise planned for the Cape Wrath area in the Autumn it is hoped the MOD will heed calls for an investigation.
Related link with more detail on environmentalists concerns here:
If you share environmentalists concerns there is a facility on this page to register your comments.
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
25/05/09
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