Update on the seemingly endless saga of whether the U.S. Navy should restrict underwater sonar use in the interest of whale health: A federal appeals court has ruled that while the Navy may continue its current training exercises in southern California as is, exercises that begin in January must operate under better safeguards for marine mammals. The plan will have to be approved and clarified by the federal court that ordered a sonar ban this summer, so stay tuned for back-and-forthing still to come.
