Whale Collision Rate Worries Feds

OCEAN CITY — Federal fisheries officials are reminding mariners all along the mid-Atlantic coast to be alert for whales in the open ocean relatively close to shore after a spike in the number of reported vessel strikes in recent weeks.

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, in the past few weeks there have been more reports of whales being struck by vessels off the mid-Atlantic seaboard than is typical for this time of the year. In the last week alone, three whale strikes have been reported in the shipping channels near the entrance to major mid-Atlantic seaports, including Baltimore and Philadelphia, prompting federal officials to issue reminders about the measures put in place to protect whales six years ago.

“It’s not clear why we’ve seen an increase in collisions, but it may be that whales are coming closer to shore following food,” said Marine Mammal Stranding Network Coordinator Mendy Garron. “At least one of the whales which was necropsied had a full stomach.”

NOAA Fisheries is reminding mariners, commercial and recreational fishermen that the U.S. has had measures in place to help reduce the threat of vessel collisions along the mid-Atlantic coast since 2008. The rule requires vessels of 65 feet or greater in length to travel at 10 knots or less in certain designated areas off the coast and at certain times of year when endangered North Atlantic right whales may be present. The rule applies within 20 nautical miles of all major ports along the mid-Atlantic Coast, including a vast area off the coast of Maryland and Virginia in and around the entrance to the Chesapeake.

NOAA Fisheries researchers report roughly 80 percent of all right whale sightings in the mid-Atlantic are within 20 nautical miles of the shore. NOAA also established a voluntary speed limit reduction in other areas off the coast when an aggregation of three or more right whales is confirmed. There are a number of other measures in place to help reduce the number of ship strikes.

For the most part, the relatively new rules are achieving the desired results although the recent spike in the number of whale-vessel collisions is reason for concern. No known fatal ship strikes involving North Atlantic right whales have occurred in the designated management zones since the speed restrictions went into effect in 2008. Before the rules, 13 right whales died after being hit by vessels in the same management areas during the 18 year prior to the changes.

Existing protective actions include surveying whale aggregation areas by aircraft, extensive mariner outreach programs and mandatory ship reporting systems that provide advisories and information on right whale locations to mariners.