UN URGED TO ACT ON SONAR THREAT TO MARINE MAMMALS

The Celtic League has urged the United Nations to act following a damaging decision by the US Supreme Court which overturned a moratorium restricting the use of powerful naval sonars near to the habitat of marine mammals.

The Celtic League AGM in Dublin in August considered a resolution which called on the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs «to institute research work to identify and mitigate the damage caused to marine mammals by noise and sonar pollution associated with military exercises at sea.»

The resolution is currently being progressed by the League. The US supreme Court decision is a detrimental development as it may be used as a 'green light' by other naval powers who have limited sonar usage.

«The Director Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea Office of Legal Affairs Room DC2-0450 United Nations New York NY 100 USA

21 November 2008

Dear Sir,

I write to express our concern at a decision of the United States Supreme Court which effectively lifted an injunction (imposed by a lower court) that placed a constraint on the use of naval sonar by the United States Navy during military exercises in the Pacific Ocean.

It is clear that this judgement will be used in relation to US Forces globally and is also likely to inform decisions by other naval powers, particularly those who are treaty partners of the US and who conduct joint exercises with the US Navy.

We understand that the United States government had argued that there was 'no evidence' of harm being caused to marine mammals by naval sonar and yet there is strong anecdotal evidence, in European waters, that links the stranding/beaching of marine mammals to naval activity.

Part 5 (Article 65) of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea includes the statement:

»States shall cooperate with a view to the conservation of marine mammals and in the case of cetaceans shall in particular work through the appropriate international organizations for their conservation, management and study.«

We trust that concerns will be raised by the UN with the United States government about any potential harm unrestricted naval sonar usage will cause to marine mammals.

Yours sincerely,

J B Moffatt»

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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League 21/11/08