disinformation | blinded by the sound

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blinded by the sound
by Preston Peet (ptpeet@cs.com) - December 20, 2000

The US Navy is disregarding all evidence that shows their new submarine defense system is harming, and possibly killing whales, dolphins, and even humans who are in surrounding waters when the Navy tests are conducted, so a lawsuit has been filed to stop them.

Known as the 'Surveillance Towed Array Sonar System' (SURTASS) 'Low Frequency Active Sonar' (LFAS), the US Navy wants to deploy this system in eighty percent of the world's oceans, according to the 'Environmental News Service' (March 17th, 2000). SURTASS LFAS will be used to listen for the newest, silent breeds of enemy submarines, by both listening for the sounds they might produce on their own, or by blasting sound throughout the oceans, then listening for the echoes bouncing off enemy subs. The first known test conducted by the US Navy of SURTASS LFAS was off the shores of Hawaii in 1998, when the Navy tried out their new toy, towing it behind the USS 'Corey Chouest', over migrating humpback whales.

Although some reports say the US Navy will not exceed 180 decibels of sound, 160 is known to harm divers, whilst 140 has caused whales to change course, and abandon calves. Some reports have placed the noise levels as high as 300 decibels. Multiply a 747 by one thousand times to get an idea of what is being talked about here in terms of sound broadcast through the ocean! This level of sound can deafen sea mammals, which see by listening to their naturally occurring sonar. In the 1998 tests, a diver exposed to 120 decibels left the water and was examined by a doctor, who found he was experiencing acute trauma, while the humpbacks were seen to be leaving the area.

Three abandoned calves were found after the tests, of three different species of whale. The 'National Marine Fisheries Service' (NMFS), the agency responsible for issuing the license to test the system to the Navy, made shutting down the tests if whales were seen to be leaving the area as a result of testing part of a prerequisite. Yet when the whales did leave, the tests continued!

A lawsuit was filed in Honolulu, Hawaii (February 29th, 2000) to stop testing of sound levels one hundred times greater than used in the 1998 tests, on the same whale breeding grounds. On March 15th, 2000, the US Navy began tests, scheduled to continue through March 22nd, of another form of anti-submarine sonar off 'Abaco Island' in the Bahamas, this time of a sonar-buoy system. Within two days of the start of the test, fourteen whales were found beached, beginning the firstday of the sonar test, on Abaco beaches, nine of which died. Michael Breynan, Director of the 'Bahamian Fisheries Department', was quoted in a report by 'Abcnews.com' story (March 21st, 2000), saying, "I am not aware of any similar incident having occurred in the Bahamas."

The US Navy denies that these most recent tests have anything to do with LFAS, yet whatever it was seems to have had a grave effect on the whales in the area. The annual 1997 report of the US 'Marine Mammal Commission' listed a number of possible effects on marine mammals this type of system, LFAS, could have, including: "death from lung hemorrhage, or other tissue trauma . . .permanent hearing loss or impairment . . .[and] disruption of feeding, breeding, nursing, acoustic communication and sensing, or other vital behavior and, if the disruption is severe, frequent, or long lasting, possible decreases in individual survival and productivity and corresponding decreases in population size and productivity," amongst many other horrors.

Since when are whales and dolphins an 'enemy', a military target?

Low Frequency Active Sonar
This is a very brief history of the Navy's LFAS testing and development. Useful for context and background research.

US Navy's LFAS: Cause For Alarm
The 'Ocean Mammal Institute' says that the US Navy is planning on deploying LFAS using sound levels up to 240 decibels, over 80 percent of the world's oceans. A scary thought!

Groups Fight Navy's Low-frequency Sonar
Some of the relevant background to the US Navy's 1998 tests off of Hawaii can be found here.

Lawsuits Claim Navy Sonar Harms Whales, Humans
This 'Environment News Report' (March 17th, 2000) on the lawsuits filed on February 29th, 2000 in Honolulu (Hawaii), to stop the US Navy from continuing with its planned new round of tests of the LFAS system.

The Bigger Mystery Behind Elian's Survival
Bobbi Sandoz points out in this article (February, 2000) a mystery surrounding controversial Cuban youngster Elian Gonzolas. He was reported as being surrounded by dolphins throughout much of his time in the Florida Straits, and that these dolphins saved this little boy even though their own children are being killed off by the US Navy's LFAS! Is there perhaps more to the Elian Gonzalez story than the public has been told?

The US Navy Has Been Using LFAS In Hawaii In 1998
In this article Hawaiian activists write that the Navy was testing sound levels between 180 to 215 decibels during February and March 1998, that a jet engine makes 140 decibels of sound, and that 215 decibels is one thousand times louder than the jet takeoff. They also note that 160 decibels, "caused generalized tissue damage to the human body."

Pacific Whale Foundation Action Alert
Register your disgust with the US Navy's LFAS deployment by signing the 'Pacific Whale Foundation' petition. Do it now!

CoLT Aboard LFAPS
A 'Low Frequency Active/Passive Sonar' device, and the type of ship on which it is to be, or has been already installed and tested, can be examined at this web-site.

Acoustic Sensor Technology Saves Manatees
Here is a 'news' brief by 'ScienceDaily.com' (March 27th, 2000) the source for which just happens to be the 'Office of Naval Research'! Funny how this story showing the benevolent technology of the US Navy, saving the lives of these poor innocent manatees. Of course, this is the same Navy that apparently killed nine whales in the Bahamas!

Quieter Submarines? Operative Or Dismantled
This article tears apart the US Navy's primary excuse for deploying their LFAS around the world.

Second Dolphin Safe Research Planning Workshop: March 14-17, 1994: Report & Recommendations
This is a report (1994) on methods of locating and catching Yellowfin Tuna, without capturing, or harming dolphins. One of the goals of this program was to find "the potential effects of low-frequency sound on marine mammals." This is a very interesting site, for anyone seeking information on lots of secret US Navy operations, and is well worth the visit to the homepage too!

Low Frequency Active Sonar Litigation
Ten Hawaiian and US national organizations, plus one elected official, filed suit in the US Federal court (February 29th, 2000), to try and stop the US Navy from testing and deploying their LFAS system, charging that the Navy is violating environmental laws.

LFAS: Its Effects On Sea Life
Courtesy of this RealAudio sample, you can now hear the sound of LFAS for yourself. It is not quite the same thing I am sure listening to it through my tiny little computer speakers, as it is to hear it underwater and up close, yet it still sounds creepy! Does anyone remember the film 'The Incredible Mr. Limpet' (1964) about the guy who turned into a fish, and helped the US Navy sink a lot of enemy submarines by making a huge underwater sound? A re-make was released in 2000. Is life imitating art here?

Low-frequency Sonar Raises Whale Advocates' Hackles
This CNN report (June 30th, 1999) is on how the US Navy is testing LFAS off the coast of Hawaii, and has driven off the whales, though the Navy denies that their tests have had any adverse effect on whales at all. The first installment of a three-part series.

Marine Mammal Facts Just Drops In The Bucket
This CNN report (July 1st, 1999) examines research science perspectives regarding the US Navy's testing of LFAS in Hawaii. The second installment of a three-part series.

Is Spreading Sonar Smart Science Or Overkill?
This CNN report (July 2nd, 2000) questions the potential military applications of LFAS and whether the US Navy really needs this sonar application or not. The third installment of a three-part series.

Disinformation Dossier On Dr. John Cunningham Lilly
Check out the Disinformation dossier on Dr. John Cunningham Lilly.

Disinformation Dossier On The Search For The Military Marine Mammalian Candidate
Check out the Disinformation dossier on The Search For The Military Marine Mammalian Candidate.

Seven Seas On Jeff Rense's Sightings: Low Frequency Active Sonar
This Jeff Rense 'Sightings' show (December 19th, 1999) covers the latest disturbing developments in 'Low Frequency Active Sonar' research. RealAudio. 3 hours.

Benedick Howard On Jeff Rense's Sightings: Sonar Killing Whales
This Jeff Rense 'Sightings' show (May 19th, 1998) explores further developments regarding covertly trained killer whales for Navy 'LFAS' missions. RealAudio. 3 hours.

Benedick Howard On Jeff Rense's Sightings: Navy Sonar Killing Whales
This Jeff Rense 'Sightings' show (May 10th, 1998) explores the possible existence of covertly trained killer whales for Navy 'LFAS' missions. RealAudio. 3 hours.

Sheryl Magill On Jeff Rense's Sightings: Saving The Seas From LFAS
This Jeff Rense 'Sightings' show (February 29th, 2000) features environmental activist Sheryl Magill on the latest strategies to thwart the Navy's 'LFAS' program. RealAudio. 3 hours.

What Is A Fish Attorney?
This aptly named web-site is a large collection of links related to the cruelty committed against sea mammals, particularly by LFAS tested and possibly already in use by the US Navy.

Acoustics Kill!
This article explores the worldwide deployment of sonar systems, the resulting environmental harm, and the effects on the living creatures subjected to these sounds.

Navy Drops Criticized Sonar Test Off New Jersey
This 'Washington Post' article (May 27th, 2000) prooves that when people make enough noise about something, a change can be made! As long as the US Navy could claim they were not sure if their nifty newfangled Low Frequency Active Sonar contraption wasn't the cause of harm to sea mammals, the tests could continue. But now that it is apparent that the extremely loud sounds emitted in the tests are harming the whales and dolphins in the surrounding waters, driving them to beach themselves, blinded by the sounds, how could the US Navy claim the moral high ground? They would be committing murder in some people's eyes. So the LFAS system will not be tested!

NAVFAC Eleuthera Webpage
This is Thomas Kimball's site on various top secret US Navy operations. Kimball here has spent a lifetime trying to find out just what it was his father was doing in the military, and due to his findings, has put together one hell of a site here, for all interested in top secret research of the US Navy. Not too much to do with dolphins, but it is great background material!

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