The US Navy can now harm marine mammals for seven years without new permits

The US Navy and Coast Guard have asked for permission to harm marine mammals during training and testing activities in the Atlantic Ocean for the next seven years. If approved, this rule would allow them to injure or kill a certain number of whales, dolphins, and seals without needing new permits for each incident.

The US Navy conducts extensive training and testing activities in the Atlantic, which often involve sonar and explosives. These activities can disrupt marine mammal behavior, injure them, or even kill them. This proposed rule would grant a blanket authorization, reducing the administrative burden on the Navy but potentially increasing the long-term impact on marine mammal populations.