Locke Asks Navy For Explanation In Sonar/Marine Life Incident

OLYMPIA - Governor Locke has asked the Navy for an explanation of an incident on May 5 when sonar from a ship apparently harmed whales and porpoises in the San Juan Islands.

In a letter to the Navy secretary Locke also asked how the Navy planned to mitigate the impact of sonar on marine mammals in Puget Sound.

Locke says he's concerned about whether the deaths of seven porpoises were caused by the sonar. He noted that a study of a whale-beaching incident in the Bahamas blamed Navy sonar.

The Navy has said there's no evidence that sonar from the destroyer Shoup caused dolphins to beach themselves in the San Juan Island. It said some porpoises were commonly found dead this time of year.