Scientists document the birth of a critically endangered North Atlantic right whale near proposed Undersea Warfare Training Range
PC: UNCW NOAA Permit 948-1692
On March 20th, while conducting surveys of an area the Navy plans to use for Undersea Warfare Training (USWTR) off Florida, scientists documented the birth of a critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. WDCS is involved in litigation over this same area with the Navy regarding the construction of its $100 million Training Range. The project threatens the already precarious survival of the fewer than 400 remaining right whales by compounding the threats of vessel strikes and noise disturbances--into an area critical to mothers and calves.
As part of the planned training, Navy ships, exempted from speed restrictions designed to protect these very right whales, would pass through the calving grounds when traveling between the proposed training area and bases at Jacksonville, FL, and Kings Bay, GA. Ship strikes are the single largest cause of death for right whales with at least eight right whales killed in the past six years, including three pregnant females. Ship traffic in the calving grounds is of particular concern since data suggests female right whales are struck more often, possibly because they must spend more time at the surface with their calves which have undeveloped lung capacities. Scientists believe that the loss of even one right whale a year from non-natural causes could jeopardize the future of the species.
“Documenting a birth in this area is even more significant when you consider how limited survey effort has been” said WDCS Senior Biologist, Regina Asmutis-Silvia. “With all the surveys conducted close to shore in the southeast Critical Habitat, only other right whale birth has ever been documented. It not only supports our petition to increase Critical Habitat to include these offshore waters, but it certainly supports our concerns about the Navy building a warfare site in this area.”
The legal challenge was filed in U.S. District Court on January 28th, for the Southern District of Georgia by Defenders of Wildlife, The Humane Society of the United States, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, Center for a Sustainable Coast, Florida Wildlife Federation, North Carolina Wildlife Federation, South Carolina Coastal Conservation League, Animal Welfare Institute, Ocean Mammal Institute, Citizens Opposing Active Sonar Threats, and Cetacean Society International. The groups are represented by attorneys from Southern Environmental Law Center, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, and Natural Resources Defense Council. The challenge alleges that the Navy and the National Marine Fisheries Service failed to do a legally required study of the environmental impacts of building and operating the training range at this location. The Navy decided to construct the range now, even though it acknowledges that more research needs to be done on the ranges environmental impacts before operations can begin. In documents filed with the court, the groups argue that the agencies must first address the impacts from operating the range before deciding to construct it.