Among the most dramatic and visible impacts of high-intensity sonar are mass whale strandings. The best documented cases occurred in the Bahamas in March 2000, when a naval exercise using sonar resulted in strandings of three different species across 150 miles of beach; one of those species, which local biologists had tracked for years, has subsequently all but disappeared from the area.

The exact mechanism by which these sonars result in the death of the whales has yet to be established, but post-mortem studies found evidence of damage rather similar to decompression sickness or the ‘bends’ suffered by human divers.

IFAW Sues US Navy to Protect Whales From Deadly Sonar

Deadly sonar used throughout the world’s oceans in routine testing and training by the United States Navy injures and kills marine mammals in violation of environmental laws. According to the lawsuit, this devastation could be avoided if the Navy used a number of proven methods to avoid harming whales when testing mid-frequency sonar.

The lawsuit, brought by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in conjunction with IFAW and other conservation groups, seeks to compel the Navy to prepare a plan to reduce the impact on whales and other marine mammals from sonar testing.

Learn all about how military sonars affect marine animals

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