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Department of the Navy: This is an image of the United States Department of the Navy logo

 

U.S. Marine Corps: This is an image of the United States Marine Corps logo.

U.S. Coast Guard: This is an image of the United States Coast Guard logo.

Department of the Army: This is an image of the United States Department of the Army logo.

Department of the Air Force: This is an image of the United States Department of the Air Force logo.

 

 
 

 

Audio Transcript

Protecting the environment and ensuring public access to natural resources are important goals of the Navy. For more than 240 years, the Navy has been operating on, over, and within the world’s oceans. These waters are the home and workplace of America’s military. The Navy is committed to minimizing impacts on the marine environment as it trains military personnel and tests new technologies to defend the United States, its territories, allies, and its national interests. 

Protecting the coastal and ocean areas of the Hawaiian Islands and California is very important to the Navy and the Navy has implemented successful environmental programs to ensure their protection.

Protecting Marine Species While Training and Testing

It is important to the Navy and Coast Guard to avoid or minimize impacts on marine species from at-sea activities.

The Navy and Coast Guard follow strict guidelines and employ measures that reduce potential effects on marine species while training or testing, such as:

  • Observing the area prior to activities
  • Posting qualified Lookouts to observe for marine species
  • Establishing activity-based mitigation zones
  • Implementing seasonal and geographic mitigations
  • Maneuvering vessels to maintain distance from observed marine species

Photo Credit: Vladimir Burkanov, NOAA Fisheries Service

This is an image of a sperm whale fluke.