Underwater Internet Cables: A Double-Edged Sword for Endangered Orcas and National Interests

As scientists deploy fiber-optic cables beneath the Salish Sea to eavesdrop on endangered orcas, a broader conversation is urgently needed about the implications of relying on global underwater infrastructure for conservation—and what it means for America’s security and sovereignty. University of Washington researchers recently unspooled a mile-long fiber-optic line on San Juan Island, Washington, hoping to transform the internet cables into a vast, continuous underwater microphone array. Their aim: to capture orca vocalizations and better understand how these iconic predators respond to growing threats such as ship noise, food scarcity, and climate change. Is This Technology a Conservation Breakthrough or...