A US federal judge has ruled that the US Navy can build a $100 million submarine training range off the coast of Southern Georgia and Northern Florida, despite groups, including WDCS, highlighting the potential impact that such a range could have on the already endangered North Atlantic right whales in the area.
Although North American right whales are protected from commercial whaling, their population has never recovered from past hunts and numbers are now well below 400.
The training range could have serious implications for their survival especially as its location is so close to the only known calving grounds for these whales. Adult females and their young migrate to the region during the winter months.
The range will place the whales under potential threat from collision with vessels, and increased levels of noise.
WDCS is looking at ways to appeal against this decision.
