Wednesday October 14, 2009, 7:44 am


Please write to the MOD expressing your concerns about this development. Below we have suggested the content for a letter.


You will need to submit it on the MOD website.....http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/ContactUs/AskAMinister.htm

Please also send a letter to your local MP or MSP.

http://www.parliament.uk/mpslordsandoffices/mps_and_lords/alcm.cfm

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/mspaddresspostcodefinder.htm

Wednesday October 14, 2009, 7:45 am


Suggested letter to send to the Ministry of Defence:

"I would like to add my strong concerns to those raised by WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society to the news that the UK Ministry of Defence is expanding Europe’s largest military exercise, known as ‘Joint Warrior’, into the Moray Firth from today - Tuesday 13thOctober. The Moray Firth is the home of the North Sea’s last resident population of bottlenose dolphins, numbering only about 130 animals and likely to be declining in numbers. The Moray Firth contains the only protected area in Scottish waters for any whale or dolphin species, the European designated sanctuary for the bottlenose dolphins, the Special Area of Conservation (SAC)”.These dolphins could be put at risk by this naval activity.

Joint Warrior, which will include up to 20 warships, 4 submarines and 40 aircraft from 9 countries, is takingplace over two weeks and began on 5th October 2009. The exercise will use powerful active sonar, which is a very loud noise source used to locate distant submarines and we are extremely concerned that the dolphins in the Moray Firth will not be adequately protected from sonar by the mitigation measures proposed. The recent deaths of common dolphins, such as the strandings that followed a military exercise off the Cornish coast last year, illustrate how delicate an issue this is and how vulnerable dolphins may be to military activities.

Mitigation measures undertaken onboard the warships cannot be relied upon and animals will not be seen,especially if the weather is not good - putting this small and vulnerable population of dolphins, and all marine wildlife, at real risk. We do not believe that the MoD’s ERMC (2117) system, that is the system that includes all sightings and distribution information about the animals upon which they determine risk, contains enough information to make an informed decision.

The government’s nature conservation agencies, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have not gone far enough in implementing the EU Habitats Directive to protect wildlife in the Moray Firth. Nor have they fully considered the impacts that the exercise might have in combination with other activities happening (or proposed) in the Moray Firth, including a potential massive expansion of seismic surveying currently being considered by the UK government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

I fully support WDCS in their calls on the MoD to undertake a full environmental assessment of its exercises around the UK for a number of years, particularly Joint Warrior, due to its size and regular occurrence (it takes place twice a year).

The UK government has recently undertaken to conduct a three year programme of research to ensure that its oil and gas activities will not significantly and negatively affect the dolphins and disturb other marine life of the Moray Firth. Given the known impacts sonar can have on marine life, the Ministry of Defence should undertake the same level of investigation to ensure compliance with legislation before it moves its exercise into this important and protected habitat.

The species seen in the Moray Firth in the last few days that may be encountered during the exercise include the bottlenose dolphins, and also minke whales, harbour porpoises, Risso’s dolphins, orcas, pilot whales, basking sharks and sunfish. Ensuring strict protection of whales and dolphins throughout Scottish waters is a requirement of the EU Habitats Directive. The MoD must be accountable for its environmental activities.

I therefore request that as a matter of urgency, the MoD should undertake a full and transparent environmental assessment of all its exercises,as is currently occurring with the US Navy. In addition I request that every effort should be made toavoid conducting exercises in sensitive areas."

Wednesday October 14, 2009, 9:47 am
Done and sent! Hope it helps immediately! Thanks Cher!

Wednesday October 14, 2009, 10:56 am
Action taken, thank-you cher

Wednesday October 14, 2009, 11:16 am


Please also see this article...

http://www.care2.com/news/member/100041282/1275592

Wednesday October 14, 2009, 2:02 pm
Action done...

Big Gorilly Hugs

Wednesday October 14, 2009, 7:36 pm
Thaks Cher