Mark Delaplaine, manager of the California Costal Commission, delivers staff recommendations to the Coastal Commission meeting regarding the effects of US Navy training on marine life in coastal California waters, Friday, March 8, 2013 in San Diego. The U.S. Navy opposes state restrictions on an explosives and sonar training program off the Southern California coast that critics fear will threaten whales and other sea mammals, state regulators were told Friday. Michael Jasny, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council, speaks at the California Costal Commission meeting regarding the effects of US Navy training on marine life in Coastal California waters, Friday, March 8, 2013 in San Diego. Demonstrators hold signs stating their position against US Navy training exercises off the California Coast, during a California Costal Commission meeting Friday, March 8, 2013 in San Diego. United State Navy Cmndr. John Doney, director of training exercises for the US Third Fllet, looks toward fellow Navy attendees after speaking to the California Costal Commission meeting regarding the effects on marine life of navy training in coastal waters, Friday, March 8, 2013 in San Diego. Mary Shellenberger, chairman of the California Costal Commission, addresses the audience at a meeting regarding the effects of US Navy training on marine life off the California coast Friday, March 8, 2013 in San Diego. SAN DIEGO (AP) - The California Coastal Commission on Friday rejected a Navy explosives and sonar training program off the Southern California coast that critics said could harm endangered blue whales and other sea life. Commissioners meeting in San Diego ruled unanimously that the Navy lacked enough information to back up its argument that the threat to marine mammals would be negligible. The program had been scheduled to begin in January. Commission staffers had recommended that the panel require additional wildlife protections before endorsing it. The panel and the Navy could now seek mediation to iron out their differences - or the Navy could simply choose to proceed with the training, as it did in 2007 and 2009. That probably would prompt the commission to sue in an effort to block the program, as it has in the past. Before the vote Alex Stone, who directs the training program, told commissioners that the Navy opposed additional conditions that could make the training less realistic and reduce its scope. Stone also said he believed the program has sufficient protections for sea life - an argument disputed by environmentalists who packed the meeting. The Navy has estimated that the proposed training program would kill 130 marine mammals and cause hearing loss in 1,600 over five years. "We think these are underestimates," Michael Jasny with the Natural Resources Defense Council told the commissioners. The commission's staff had recommended that approval be contingent on a list of conditions. They included requiring that the Navy create safety zones that would guarantee no high-intensity sonar activity near marine sanctuaries and protected areas and in spots that experience a high concentration of blue, fin and gray whales seasonally. The staff also said a kilometer from shore should also be off-limits to protect bottlenose dolphins. The commission set out similar conditions to the Navy in 2007 and 2009, but the Navy refused to accept them both times. Jasny's organization and three dozen others say they want the Navy to avoid important habitat for vulnerable species, including endangered blue and fin whales, beaked whales, and migrating gray whales. Studies have shown some species such as beaked whales may be adversely affected by some forms.