Japan Press Weekly

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2015 April 29 - May 12 [US FORCES]

Sound waves from US nuclear-powered submarines may be killing dolphins

Sound waves from U.S. nuclear-powered submarines possibly caused a stranding of 156 dolphins on the Pacific coast of Ibaraki Prefecture in early April, Akahata reported on May 6.

Submarines are equipped with active sonar which sends and receives sound waves to search out enemy submarines. Dolphins and whales also use sound waves to determine the position of other life forms as well as the shapes of sea floors. Some scientists point out that sonic waves from nuclear-powered submarines could bring about adverse effects on the biological sonar function of these sea animals.

Accepting the possibility that sonic waves from nuclear-powered submarines lead to abnormal behavior of dolphins and whales, the U.S. Navy in autumn 2011started conducting research into this issue in sea areas off the coast of Florida.

In February this year, two months before the dolphin standing in Ibaraki, the U.S. Navy and Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force conducted a joint anti-submarine training exercise in the seas off the coast of Japan with nuclear submarines participating. In March 2011, 53 dolphins ran ashore near the latest stranding site and a similar military exercise had also taken place in the vicinity just before that.

The Japanese and U.S. governments should investigate active sonar’s possible damage to dolphins and whales in sea areas near Japan and publish the findings.