How reliant are whales and dolphins on sonar?

This is actually a well known issue and is why there are often protests surrounding naval activities. Navigation is only part of it though, there are physical injuries due to the volume of the sound that can often result in death. read more

-- John Slocum, Newport, RI Unfortunately for many whales, dolphins and other marine life, the use of underwater sonar (short for sound navigation and ranging) can lead to injury and even death. read more

And dolphins have been around for ages, and have been forehead bouncing their magic waves off things that whole time. So they are pretty good at it. Basically, it only works on things that are somewhat in their vicinity. So the question becomes moot after a distance. A San Diego dolphin has no interest in pinging objects off the coast of Japan. read more