Right Whales and Ships: Right Whales and Ships: Can They Coexist?Can They Coexist?

Gerald LeapeGerald Leape

Vice President for Marine Vice President for Marine Conservation Conservation

National Environmental TrustNational Environmental Trust

Mountain gorilla: about 600 continue tosurvive in the rainy mountain forests of Uganda.

Snow leopard: between 3000 and7000 found in the high mountains of central Asia.

North Atlantic right whaleNorth Atlantic right whale

• Classified as endangered Classified as endangered both internationally and both internationally and in U.S.in U.S.

• One of world’s most One of world’s most endangered large whales.endangered large whales.

• Protected under U.S. law: Protected under U.S. law: ESA, MMPA.ESA, MMPA.

• Only 300-350 remaining.Only 300-350 remaining.

• Extinction projected Extinction projected without drastic action.without drastic action.

Entanglement in fishing gearEntanglement in fishing gear

Ship strikesShip strikes

Urban whales northUrban whales north

• Breed and feed in Breed and feed in nearshore waters nearshore waters off RI, MA, NH, ME, off RI, MA, NH, ME, CACA

• High traffic areas High traffic areas are prime feeding are prime feeding habitat: Great South habitat: Great South Channel and Mass Channel and Mass Bay, Bay of FundyBay, Bay of Fundy

Urban whales southUrban whales south

• Calve in shallow Calve in shallow warmer waters off warmer waters off Florida/Georgia Florida/Georgia coast.coast.

• Feeding, resting, Feeding, resting, socializing bring socializing bring them to surface them to surface often.often.

How can we be certain ship strikes How can we be certain ship strikes are to blame?are to blame?

• Coastwide aerial Coastwide aerial surveys. surveys.

• Every carcass Every carcass necropsied by expert necropsied by expert team of scientists.team of scientists.

• Births, deaths, Births, deaths, sightings all sightings all maintained in maintained in database.database.

Crisis?Crisis?

• At least 8 right At least 8 right whale deaths over whale deaths over past 18 months.past 18 months.

• At least 4 ship At least 4 ship strikes.strikes.

• Three times Three times average mortality average mortality rate.rate.

Long-term impactsLong-term impacts

• Five of 8 recent Five of 8 recent mortalities mature mortalities mature females.females.

• At least 3 pregnant.At least 3 pregnant.

• Represents loss of Represents loss of more than 5% of more than 5% of total female total female breeding population.breeding population.

Northern locations of recentNorthern locations of recent whale whale mortalitiesmortalities

Southern locations of recent right whale Southern locations of recent right whale mortalitiesmortalities

What can we do??What can we do??

Legal obligationsLegal obligations

• Both ESA and MMPA require NOAA Both ESA and MMPA require NOAA Fisheries to protect and recover right Fisheries to protect and recover right whales.whales.

• MMPA “potential biological removal” MMPA “potential biological removal” = 0= 0

Emergency regulations: speedEmergency regulations: speed

• Data indicate speeds 13 knots or less give Data indicate speeds 13 knots or less give right whales enough time to react and avoid right whales enough time to react and avoid ships.ships.

• All ships leaving/entering East Coast ports All ships leaving/entering East Coast ports should travel at 12 knots or less within 25 should travel at 12 knots or less within 25 nautical miles of shore during peak whale nautical miles of shore during peak whale use periods.use periods.– Nov 1 to April 30 Florida north to RINov 1 to April 30 Florida north to RI– Jan 1 to May 31 in Cape Cod BayJan 1 to May 31 in Cape Cod Bay– Jan 1 to July 31 in Great South Channel and Jan 1 to July 31 in Great South Channel and

Boston Separation SchemeBoston Separation Scheme

Emergency regulations: DAMsEmergency regulations: DAMs

• Dynamic management areas Dynamic management areas – In other areas when large aggregations of right In other areas when large aggregations of right

whales are identified.whales are identified.– Should include re-routing and/or speeds of 12 Should include re-routing and/or speeds of 12

knots or less.knots or less.

The right thing to doThe right thing to do

• Difficult for industry Difficult for industry • Competitive Competitive

disadvantgesdisadvantges• Better if permanent?Better if permanent?• Mariners Mariners areare

concerned with concerned with protecting protecting endangered marine endangered marine species.species.