Group: Naval sonar may have killed dolphins (xpost from Veterans)

[unhappycamper]

Group: Naval sonar may have killed dolphins
By Raphael G. Satter - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jun 12, 2008 6:15:03 EDT

LONDON — More than two dozen dolphins may have been killed after becoming disoriented by British navy sonar exercises, a marine animal protection group said Wednesday.

The Royal Navy denied that a survey vessel using side-scan sonar was to blame in the stranding of 32 dolphins in shallow waters.

“It is considered extremely unlikely that this operation could have affected the mammals in any way,” the navy said in a statement. The ship was mapping the seabed about 14 miles off the southwest coast of England.

But Marine Connection, a whale and dolphin protection charity, insisted the underwater noise could have disoriented the animals and pushed them into dangerous waters.

“Something has definitely spooked these animals,” said Liz Sandeman, its director of operations.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/06/ap_sonar_dolphins_061108/