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Canada May Move Ship Lanes to Aid Whales SAINT JOHN, New Brunswick, Canada, May 23, 2002 (ENS) - Industry and wildlife organizations that have worked with Canadian officials for the last three years on a plan to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales from ship collisions applauded Transport Canada's proposal to move commercial shipping lanes in the Bay of Fundy. North Atlantic right whales are the world's most endangered great whales, with only 350 individual whales remaining. Up to two-thirds of them gather in the Bay of Fundy each summer, where a major shipping channel passes through the whales' summer feeding grounds. Transport Canada, the government agency that regulates shipping, submitted a proposal April 5 to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to move ship traffic lanes in the Bay of Fundy so that they skirt the area where most right whales congregate. The Canadian proposal to move the shipping lanes will continue to undergo local consultation and will culminate in a decision at the IMO annual meeting on July 12 to 16 in London, England. The IMO is the United Nations agency responsible for improving ship traffic safety.
In its proposal, Transport Canada cites research showing that the traffic separation scheme (TSS) in the Bay of Fundy runs through the middle of critical right whale habitat where the risk of ships colliding with a right whale is greatest. "Ship related mortality and injury to the right whale are considered significant obstacles to the successful recovery and viability of the North Atlantic right whale population, particularly in light of its small size and low birth rates," the agency said. Dr. Moira Brown, senior scientist with the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and the Canadian Whale Institute in Bolton, Ontario, has worked on the shipping lane change plan since 1998. "This is an important step to foster the recovery of right whales since collisions with ships are responsible for half of all North Atlantic right whale deaths over the last 10 years. With a population of only 350, every life lost is a blow to the population's genetic strength," she said. Most of the female right whales are now en route from their winter calving grounds off Florida and Georgia to the Bay of Fundy, between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. "For these whales, spending their summers in the Bay of Fundy is like having their playground in the middle of a highway," said Cathy Merriman of World Wildlife Fund Canada's marine conservation program. "We are optimistic that when the IMO meets in July, it will approve Canada's proposal to move the shipping lanes within its own waters. The whales can't wait another year, and we congratulate Transport Minister [David] Collenette for taking this important step towards reducing their risk of collisions." The lane change proposal has widespread support in Atlantic Canada, including the backing of Irving Oil, which employs the largest shipping fleet in the Bay of Fundy. For the past four years, Irving Oil has been active on the right whale recovery team working groups in the U.S. and Canada, working with government officials, scientists and environmentalists in finding practical solutions for the endangered right whale population. "Irving Oil is the largest operator of ships moving in and out of the Bay of Fundy and we fully support this move to protect the right whales feeding there," says John Logan, manager of Shipping Operations for Irving Oil.
"We have been working with the New England Aquarium for the past four years on the issue of altering the shipping lanes as well as supporting their right whale research in the Bay of Fundy each summer," he said. "It took some time to research and find the correct solution and this looks like it will reduce the chances of ship-whale interaction substantially," said Logan. After several years of low reproduction rates, the population enjoyed a baby boom this winter, with a total of 18 new calves identified so far, according to New England Aquarium researchers. This comes after last year's record of 31 calves. "We were thrilled to see so many new calves swimming with their mothers this year. Eighteen births is significant," said Scott Kraus, director of research at the New England Aquarium, which identified the new whales. "But although this new infusion of calves gives the whale population a much needed boost, their situation remains dire." The baby boom of the past two years, as well as the disastrously low calf counts of years past, appears to be related to shifting oceanographic conditions that influence the availability of the plankton these whales eat. The New England Aquarium in Boston, the lead organization working to identify right whale calves each year, maintains a photo catalogue of individual right whales. Researchers there have identified at least 18 new calves this year, but Kraus notes that more may be identified as researchers continue to monitor the population in coming months. The New England Aquarium is raising funds for its Right Whale Research Project with an Adopt a Right Whale program. The funds benefit field researchers who are out on the water tracking the whales in the planes, in the office interpreting the information gathered in the field, organizing slides to develop an updated catalog, and working to understand more about these extremely endangered whales and how to help them. Since 1997, World Wildlife Fund Canada and the Center for Coastal Studies, with the New England Aquarium, have worked in partnership to support critical right whale research, increase federal funding available for conserving this species, and raise public awareness about threats to its survival. Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2002. All rights reserved. |
Right whale mother and calf (Photo courtesy 
Right whale breaching in the Bay of Fundy (Photo courtesy 