A Los Angeles federal judge urged the Navy to limit the use of mid-frequency sonar within 12 miles of Southern California, which would greatly reduce the negative impact on marine life (whales and dolphins). The issue was stated on Thursday, and it drastically restricts the Navy’s training missions with that particular type of sonar, which has been ultimately linked to disoriented and panicked behavior from whales and dolphins, and sometimes even to their death.

The decision was made by U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper, and it is meant to avoid the use of mid-frequency sonar within the migrating corridor the various marine mammals use in their journey. According to federal rules, humans are to wear ear protection when using the sonar, so why shouldn’t there be protection for the marine wildlife too?

The Navy had previously proposed a set of regulations on the use of mid-frequency sonar, but the federal judge completely disagreed with them. The proposition of the Navy stated that the sonar’s intensity should be reduced when the marine mammals approached within 1,100 yards, and shut down when the creatures get as close as 200 yards.

As a response to the Navy proposition, the newly stated rule says that “the court is persuaded that the (protection) scheme proposed by the navy is grossly inadequate to protect marine mammals from debilitating levels of sonar exposure.” The judge ordered the sonar to be shut down when the mammals are within 2,200 yards and the waters to be scouted one hour before the exercise, in order to identify the possible presence of marine mammals.

The Navy declared itself aware of the damage the sonar exercises causes, estimating that a series of 14 exercises would temporarily deafen whales 8,000 times and cause permanent injuries to over 400 mammals, but said that its soldiers need to be trained somehow.

Jeff Davis, spokesman for the Navy, said about the decision: “Despite the care the court took in crafting its order, we do not believe it struck the right balance between national security and environmental concerns.” But the environmental groups completely disagree, as this has been a long time dream for them.