U.S. ship doing sound-wave tests runs aground on Mexican reef, faces fines

[Judi Lynn]

U.S. ship doing sound-wave tests runs aground on Mexican reef, faces fines
04:22 AM EST Feb 18
MEXICO CITY (AP) - A U.S. research vessel conducting controversial sound-wave research off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula faces heavy fines for running aground on a coral reef, Mexican authorities announced Thursday.

The U.S. National Science Foundation ship Maurice Ewing, which is using sound waves to search for traces of an asteroid that may have wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, ran aground on rocks and coral about 45 kilometres off the Yucatan peninsula late Monday.
(snip)

The ill-fated research project had already raised the hackles of environmental activists, who said the technology could harm whales - which use sound waves to communicate - as well as sea turtles and several varieties of fish in the Gulf of Mexico.
(snip)

Scientists acknowledge there's evidence that points to navy sonar causing whales to beach themselves. But they said there's no proof seismic pulses have harmed marine animals, though more research is needed to draw firm conclusions.
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http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050217/w021772.html

[Why Syzygy]

1. lessee

American tax dollars are looking for pieces of an asteroid that MAY have ended dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

I'm all for science and research.

Who's researching the research?

And why is that money not going to establish why there are still barbarians on the planet who seek to destroy one another and the planet?

Sounds like a good research project to me.

[evolvenow]

2. Right, It only KILLS WHALES and DOLPHINS, by imploding/exploding organs...

brains, inner ear, heart. If it is so harmless, why does it keep KILLING sentient, innocent marine mammals, everywhere it is used??

This should be considered MURDER!!! F*cking useless research...

[sybylla]

4. Never heard of that

Got a link?

I'm curious since we use sound waves to examine just about everything we can't see these days, including fetuses, where this kind of killing is taking place and what kind of equipment is being used.

[evolvenow]

5. This is sound like a jet taking off--Many links to this horror...

http://www.independent-media.tv/item.cfm?fmedia_id=10211&fcategory_desc=Under%20Reported


http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/features/details?item_id=524838
The blasts from seismic air gun can reach volumes of 260 decibels (anything above 180 decibels is believed to be harmful to marine mammals). The injuries that may be caused by sounds at this level include permanent hearing loss, disorientation, brain hemorrhaging and death.

The ocean is an acoustic environment, not a visual one and marine mammals rely heavily on sound for their survival. Without their heightened sense of hearing, marine mammals cannot find food, avoid predators or communicate with each other.

Much more if you Google:

Google: whale, dolphin, deaths, seismic

[illflem]

3. When I lived in Mexico in the '80s

the "fine" for violation of Mexico's territorial waters was prison for the entire crew and confiscation of the ship. They used to do this quite often to fishing trawlers then convert them into Mexican Navy craft.

[evolvenow]

6. kick for the beautiful whale and dolphins---