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Scientific Solutions Issued Permit to Test New Approach for Protecting Whale Populations

Posted on: Monday, 29 December 2003, 06:00 CST

NASHUA, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 29, 2003--Scientific Solutions Inc. today announced it has received a federal permit to test a new method of protecting whale populations from ship collisions and man-made underwater acoustic events that could result in injury or death. The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service of the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration issued the permit in compliance with regulations established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Regulations are currently in place, or are being developed, that require suspension of marine activities that may injure, kill, or significantly harass whales if they are known to be in the vicinity. However, the two methods used today to determine if whales are nearby -- passive sonar and visual identification -- are inadequate. "Passive sonar presumes that the whales are vocalizing, which is very often not the case," said Dr. Peter J. Stein, Scientific Solutions' president. "Visual identification only works during daylight hours and presumes that sea and weather conditions are calm and clear, and that whales are surfacing within view."

Scientific Solutions' approach will use low-power, high frequency active sonar soundings that can detect the proximity of whales under any conditions. The company worked with marine mammal experts so that the sonar's sound waves do not injure the whales. The purpose of the tests is to investigate how well the current systems work and collect information that can be used to improve their performance. Also, the tests will show that active sonar at whale-safe levels can be used to identify their presence without negatively affecting natural behavior. Leading independent scientific experts on whales will be observing the tests throughout the duration of the investigation. They will have the authority to suspend the tests if they believe that natural behavior is being negatively affected. The tests are scheduled to begin early next year off the coast of central California during the Gray Whale migration.

Though numbers are imprecise, it is likely that hundreds of whales are injured, killed, or significantly harassed annually by collisions with ships and man-made acoustic events that are a natural byproduct of seismic surveys, demolition, submarine detection and other underwater activities. "If our tests prove effective in noting the presence of whales under all conditions, it will be a major step forward in human efforts to protect their populations," Stein said.

Scientific Solutions has posted a website at www.whalesafety.net with additional details about the investigation.

Founded in 1992 by Dr. Peter J. Stein, a scientist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Scientific Solutions Inc. performs underwater acoustic research for commercial and government organizations and develops instruments to make a variety of measurements in harsh environments. The company is located at 99 Perimeter Road, Nashua, N.H. 03063; telephone 603-880-3784.

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