Conservation groups and marine ecologists have expressed concern regarding the impact of the military exercises by the Russian navy off the south west coast of Ireland next week.
The Russian Federation has indicated that the exercises will include the firing of rockets and artillery in a zone 240km off the south west coast. The location is outside Ireland's territorial waters but within the Exclusive Economic Zone.
In 1991, the Irish Government declared all Irish waters within the Irish EEZ as a whale and dolphin sanctuary in recognition of its importance as a habitat for whales and dolphins.
While the Russian military maneuvers have attracted significant attention, maritime military exercises are not unusual. Last year, Nato forces planned at least 9 maritime military exercises.
Emma Verling a marine ecologist said that the loud sounds emitted during these exercises do have an impact on marine mammals.
"Studies have shown that loud sounds lead to marine mammals fleeing an area, but also having a physical impact on them. Some mammals become distressed and suffer physical damage in their efforts to flee from the sounds."
Dave Wall, Conservation Officer with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group said that there is concern regarding the impact of low frequency sonar on whales and dolphins during military exercises.
"This type of sonar is used to detect submarines and can have a significant negative impact on marine mammals," Mr Wall said. He said a resident population of Beaked whales have been identified in this area.
Beaked whales live and dive in the deep ocean and their numbers are thought to be small. They are one of the least known groups of mammals because of their deep-sea habitat.
"If they get frightened by these sonar impulses their heart rate increases and they may suddenly come to the surface and suffer what is called in diving terminology 'the bends' and that can result in injury or even death."
Mr Wall also said: "Any use of active sonar presents a risk. Over the past two decades in Ireland, we've had multiple mass strandings of whales and in each case, we calculated that possibly hundreds of animals died as a result of these events. The use of active sonar is the only explanation that makes sense to explain these mortalities."
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group are planning to propose that these sea areas would be designated as marine protected areas to protect the Beaked whale and other marine mammals and prohibit military exercises that could negatively impact upon them.
