Russian military exercise off Irish coast a 'threat to whales' - BBC News

Russia's plans to host naval exercises off Ireland's coast are a threat to rare marine wildlife, the country's ambassador in Dublin has been warned.

In a letter to Yury Filatov, Irish junior minister Malcolm Noonan said the planned military exercises are "deeply concerning".

Mr Noonan said the impact on a number of species could be "devastating".

The naval exercises are due to take place about 240km (150 miles) off the south-west coast of Ireland next month.

Mr Noonan said while the exact nature of the planned exercises is unknown, underwater sounds such as military sonar "can have devastating consequences" for a number of species, including sperm, beaked and "the deep-diving and rarely-seen blue whale".

The Republic of Ireland's defence minister, Simon Coveney, has said the live-fire exercise was "not welcome", but the country had no power to stop it.

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