"This stranding has also allowed the researchers to watch how mothers and other members of the pod act and react during pregnancy. During the birthing in Key Largo, the very social dolphins seemed in tune with what was going on with the birth. They became much more active and, at times, even protective of the mother, as the humans attempted to help the mother with her birth."
So we won't have the results of the tests for quite a while. By which time, no one will remember the happening to begin with, and it will fade into the timewarp of news. If it didn't happen in the last hour, who cares? In the meantime, however, we do now know this, also from KeyNews.com:
Navy says it used sonar during same day as dolphin strandingBY BECKY IANNOTTA
Citizen Staff
KEY WEST — The Navy's submarine Philadelphia used short-range sonar to help guide it to the water's surface on Wednesday, the same day 50 to 70 rough-toothed dolphins began beaching themselves off Marathon, a Navy official said Monday.
Lt. Cmdr. Jensin Sommer, spokeswoman for Navy Submarine Forces in Norfolk, said it is too early to say whether the use of sonar caused the stranding, and said the Navy is working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service, which is conducting the investigation into the stranding.
The nuclear-powered submarine was about 45 miles southwest of the stranding site when it used active sonar on Wednesday and three other days last week, Sommer said. The Philadelphia used high-frequency sonar prior to surfacing to avoid potential contact with other ships on Feb. 27, March 1 and March 2, and used mid-frequency sonar for navigation Feb. 28, she said.
Mid-frequency sonar has a longer range and produces more power than high-frequency sonar, Sommer said.
Scientists are conducting necropsies and other tests expected to take several months to determine whether the dolphins were suffering from a virus or other illness, were disoriented or injured by underwater noise or were forced to shore by some other cause.
"Every effort will be taken between the federal agencies to determine what may have caused the strandings. Until the necropsies are complete, the possible cause of strandings cannot be determined," Sommer said. "The U.S. Navy takes its role as a good steward of the seas very seriously. Navy peacetime operations and training events are designed to fully comply with U.S. environmental laws and regulations."
Attention turned to the Navy following The Citizen's front-page picture Wednesday showing the Philadelphia conducting training exercises near Key West Harbor. A 2000 stranding in the Bahamas was blamed on the Navy's use of sonar and two others in the past two years — one in Washington and one in North Carolina — are under investigation.
"It is important to note that while submarines do not routinely use active sonar while operating at sea in order to preserve their unique stealth capabilities, its use is not unusual for safe navigation under circumstances such as poor visibility, and as operational requirements dictate," Sommer said Monday.
A Navy surface ship passed through the Florida Straits on Feb. 28, but it did not use its active sonar, Sommer said.
I'm not really too surprised - how about you? But here's a scary thing - when I was looking for information on this, Googling and so forth, I found MY OWN ENTRY from this journal last Sunday. Yikes. Right out there with real information, me.
6 comments:
Let's be honest... would anyone be surprised to find out the test results show the sonar is causing the destruction we already know its causing? I think you are right, they are simply hoping that enough time passes that people forget, because if people don't forget, then they will be held accountable. Thanks for not forgetting.
Peace, Virginia
I do indeed hate it when a story disappears from the face of the earth -- hence our "collective" short-term memories of political history!!! If only important social, political, environmental pieces could linger long enough to be "logged" as important! The world could be a different kind of place...!
I know I heard a little blurb on tv that it was attributed to a virus. Isn't THAT interesting...in light of this article that states how long it will be before test results are conclusive. Makes me wonder where the information I heard came from. But you're right....once they have conclusive data....it will be such nonnews, we'll never hear a thing about it.
A few weeks ago, I received an e-mail from a man whose father had recently passed away. I knew his father, and had written something of an obituary in my journal (more of a remembrance than a proper obit). Anyway, the man had Googled his dad's name and came up with my post. He read it and wrote to thank me for it.
I was very happy of course, but a little surprised to find that something I had written had traveled so far.
Just proves that our thoughts and their expression can make a difference in the world.
Neil
Cutting edge, you are. That's one of the reasons I regularly tune into this blog. Not too surprising that our Navy doesn't take any responsibility. The lack of responsibility for anything starts at the top of the current administration. Paulette
so sad.... and yes, it is amazing what pops up in Google. Be well this weekend. I feel a trip to the beach coming on soon:):) judi
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