Whales to gain 'long-sought protections' as navy limits sonar use, activists say

Court orders settlement after Earthjustice, Greenpeace and other organizations take legal action amid concern over the impact of military training activities

A federal court has ordered a settlement in two cases that challenged the United States navy's training and testing activities off the coasts of Hawaii and Southern California.

Environmental legal aid organization Earthjustice tells the Guardian that the settlement will secure "long-sought protections for whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals by limiting navy activities in vital habitats".