Increased shipping around South Africa raises whale collision risks, prompting urgent action to protect vulnerable species, reports Mongabay.
Increased shipping traffic around South Africa due to disruptions in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz has raised the risk of collisions between vessels and whales, reported California's Mongabay Conservation News.
A new study analyzed six whale species in near- and offshore waters and found significant overlap between whale habitats and shipping lanes. Researchers stated that urgent action is needed to reduce strikes.
In April, two Bryde's whales washed up dead on Dyer Island with shattered vertebrae and propeller wounds. Loraine Shuttleworth of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust indicated that the injuries clearly suggested vessel strikes.
Shipping traffic through South African waters has quadrupled since late 2023, with vessels traveling at speeds above 15 knots. Scientist Els Vermeulen of the University of Pretoria noted that the scale of traffic prompted her team to investigate the associated risks.
Ms. Vermeulen presented findings to the International Whaling Commission, demonstrating the overlap between vessel movements and whale habitats. She stated that the increased presence of vessels in whale areas is sufficient to confirm a problem.
The South African government, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and scientists are now collaborating on guidelines for ships, including speed restrictions and alternative routes. Ms. Vermeulen mentioned that measures used in the Northern Hemisphere, such as 10-knot limits, could be adapted for local conditions.
Whale populations are recovering after decades of protection, with humpback supergroups gathering in the Benguela Upwelling System. However, the increase in both whale numbers and shipping traffic in the same waters raises collision risks, threatening vulnerable species such as southern right, fin, and blue whales.
She emphasized that speed limits could be implemented immediately, while further research is needed to identify safer routes. She added that human-wildlife conflict is complex, as recovering whale populations coincide with rising shipping traffic.
