So even though dolphins are a "fantastic system" to spot mines, as Capt. Frank Linkous told the BBC, machines will be able to replace them adequately. "Maybe not 100%, but fairly close."
Robots Replace Costly U.S. Navy Mine-Clearance Dolphins
Boy oh boy, talk about a hard hitting recession; even the Navy’s
dolphins are being laid off (or would that be floated off)? The staff of
mine clearing dolphins are to be completely replaced by 20’ sub-drone
robots, which are still being developed and tested. The sea mammal program
has been in operation for over 50 years and will begin to be phased out
by 2017 to make way for the new generation of mine hunters. Next stop
for the dolphins: Sea World for retirement.