Some fear sonar may harm endangered whales

[unhappycamper]

Some fear sonar may harm endangered whales
By Ron Word - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Mar 13, 2009 8:31:05 EDT

FLAGLER BEACH, Fla. — In the blue-green surf, 11 endangered North Atlantic right whales surface, jump and shoot mist high into the air through their blow holes.

Dozens of motorists pull over on A1A and grab their cameras and binoculars as the whales frolic in three groups near this north Florida town’s pier.

“It’s a good day,” whale researcher Jim Hain said as he watched through binoculars from a restaurant’s top deck.

But this picture postcard scene is at the center of the latest debate over how to balance the protection of marine mammals with the military’s need to use sonar for training.

The right whale is among the world’s most endangered mammals. Hain and other researchers believe there are only about 300 to 350 of them remaining and a loss of some breeding females could be devastating.


Rest of article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/03/ap_whales_031309/%2e