Navy gets OK, rules for exercises off coast

SEATTLE – The U.S. Navy must shut down sonar use if marine mammals are spotted near training exercises and take other precautions when using the sound-wave technology or explosives off the Northwest coast, NOAA’s Fisheries Service said Tuesday.

The Navy requested authorization for the exercises from NOAA under the Marine Mammal Protection Act because noise from sonar and explosives may affect the behavior of some animals or cause temporary hearing loss.

The Navy last month approved a plan to expand training and weapons testing in the Northwest Training Range Complex. The area is used by about 32 species of marine mammals.