Survey Keeps Ear on Sonar

Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Findings from an extensive research project this summer on the effect of sonar on marine mammals will be released in December. The information gathered from the $400,000 study -- done jointly with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service and the U.S. Navy -- is still being analyzed, said NOAA spokeswoman Connie Barclay.

Barclay also said NOAA scientists are tracking the electronic-monitoring tags placed on deep-diving beaked, pilot, melon-headed and false killer whales. The devices are expected to provide information on the movements of these marine mammals around the Hawaiian Islands.

NOAA said more than 30 marine mammals were tagged with listening and movement sensors during the recently completed Rim of the Pacific naval exercises, which involved 35 ships and six submarines from 10 nations.