Sonar used too close to orcas again 

06:41 PM PDT on Friday, July 1, 2005

By GARY CHITTIM / KING 5 News

SEATTLE - Sonar is blamed for causing injuries, even death to marine mammals and now Northwest whale advocates say the military is again using sonar too close to orcas.

This time, the Canadian Navy is getting the blame.

According to whale protection groups, a Canadian Naval ship, looking peaceful on the surface in the San Juan Islands, was raising a dangerous ruckus with sonar captured on underwater microphones.

They say some sensitive ears were exposed to it.

"At this time of year it is littered with killer whales. We have all three pods in town these days," said Fred Felleman, Ocean Advocates.

Whale researchers were able to photograph members of one of those pods swimming near the ship in Haro Strait – the main waterway between Vancouver Island and the San Juans.

In one recording, the researchers say, you can hear the high-pitched sonar and orcas communicating in the background.

Two years ago, a U.S. Navy ship was recorded using its sonar in the same place. Days later, dead porpoises were found, but scientists could not link their deaths to the sonar.

The U.S. Navy officials agreed not to use sonar in areas where orcas are observed, especially in confined areas like Haro Strait, but the Canadian Navy made no such commitment.

"It seems to me, unbelievable, that the Canadian government, who's listed these killer whales as endangered, U.S. is going to list them as threatened, that we couldn't get some uniform protection for this very threatened population," said Felleman.

Canadian Naval officials did not return KING 5's calls Friday.

Both the Canadian and U.S. Navies have vowed to protect marine species whenever possible, but both also value the unique geology of Haro Strait for testing sonar.

There have been no reports of any orcas or other marine mammals injured by this latest testing.