Welfare of Marine Mammals in Military Sonar Training Exercises

Military sonar exercises cause whale and dolphin strandings, behavioral disruption, and auditory injury through acoustic pressure waves that interfere with marine mammal navigation and communication.

Key Facts

Mid-frequency active sonar has been linked to mass strandings of beaked whales in the Mediterranean and Canary Islands
Beaked whales appear particularly sensitive to sonar, showing panic responses that lead to rapid surfacing and decompression injury
US Navy has implemented some exclusion zones and monitoring protocols following court orders
Acoustic injury from sonar includes hemorrhaging around ears and brain in affected whales
Low-frequency sonar used in submarine detection has ocean-wide range and affects baleen whale communication

Welfare Considerations

Military sonar causes some of the most dramatic and well-documented acute welfare events in marine mammals — mass strandings where beaked whales beach themselves in apparent panic, dying from decompression injuries caused by rapid ascent. The mechanism is understood: sonar signals trigger flee responses so intense that animals surface too quickly, suffering gas bubble formation in tissues. Mitigation is achievable through exclusion zones, seasonal restrictions in sensitive areas, and ramping protocols that allow animals to leave before full power is reached. Military necessity is real; so is the welfare cost.

What You Can Do

Support legal challenges and advocacy for stronger sonar mitigation requirements in naval training areas
Donate to marine mammal stranding response organizations that respond to sonar-related events
Advocate for exclusion zones around known beaked whale habitat in military exercise planning
Raise awareness of military sonar welfare impacts in discussions about ocean noise pollution