Criminal proceedings are to commence over the large number of dolphin deaths in the Black Sea. Ukrainian prosecutors say the Russian military is to blame for the dolphin deaths in the Black Sea as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and they’re ready to file criminal charges over the ecocide. There is a high possibility that the cause of death is due to Russia’s use of sonar equipment on their submarines and vessels, sounds above 180 dB can disrupt the animals’ hearing and cause physical injury and even death. These sound waves can travel for hundreds of miles underwater.
Several of the dolphins found dead have already undergone a necropsy, and scientists from Italy and Germany will join the investigation to help confirm the cause of death. Worldwide, use of active sonar has been linked to dozens of cetacean strandings over the years including 15 Cuvier’s beaked whales in Italy, (1963) long-finned pilot whales in Tasmania (2005), and 26 short-beaked dolphins in the UK (2008).
