In the latest development in the battle of good vs. evil whales vs. the government, a judge has overruled President Bush: the Navy cannot be exempted from a sonar ban.

Environmentalists have fought the use of sonar in court, saying it harms whales and other marine mammals. They won an injunction that created a no-sonar zone, but President George Bush signed a waiver in January exempting the Navy and its anti-submarine warfare exercises.

In reinstating the ban, the judge wrote that she had “significant concerns about the constitutionality of the President’s exemption”. White House spokesperson Tony Fratto said. “We believe the orders are legal and appropriate.”

One round for the whales.

National Geographic News: Navy Not Exempt From Sonar Restrictions, Judge Rules

Previous installments:

1 - Killer whales and Navy sonar
2 - Bush trumps courts, Navy trumps whales

We visit the territory of the resident killer whales on our women’s trips to the San Juan Islands each year. These orca whales face many threats, but hopefully navy sonar will no longer be one of them.