Podemos call to end Ocean Sky military exercise

The Podemos party has called for a cease to the Ocean Sky military manoeuvres currently taking place from Canarian air bases. They claim that the exercises are using sonar devices that are responsible for the death of several whales and dolphins.

In 2002 the death of 14 beaked whales led to Spain banning certain anti-submarine sonars in the Canary Islands.

The party claims that the exercises involve “NATO using active sonobuoys launched from anti-submarine aircraft, with emissions exceeding 200 decibels underwater, equivalent to the noise of a rocket but under the sea, where sound propagates with greater intensity.” Podemos condemned that the Canaries “continue to be treated as a (military) training ground without rights or compensation” and said it would ask the Ministry of Defence for explanations to “find out the real cost, the environmental impact, and the legal framework of the manoeuvres.”