Pacific Spirit Marine Institute
The ‘Right Stuff’ for the Right Whales.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
North Atlantic Right whales, named ‘right’ because because whaling crews found them to be the right whale to kill. They moved slowly and stayed close to the surface of the water.
The North Atlantic right whales are getting a break from some hit and run traffic at sea. Last year Canada proposed that the Roseway Bay be designated an ‘Area to Be Avoided”. June 1 through December, ships 300 tons and larger are voluntarily avoiding their regular routes in order to avoid hitting the right whales.
One container ship captain told CNN the ‘Area to Be Avoided’ only has a negligible impact on fuel consumption. It’s estimated the diversion will add less than 10 minutes to a 16-hour voyage.
The idea is voluntary, but it seems like in the first month of the new program many of the ships are bypassing the right whales paths. 52 ships avoided the area, but another 35 still passed through the new ’safe zone’. Maybe this is a good idea that will catch on.
In 2003 the the Bay of Fundy became an ATBA, area to be avoided and it reduced the risk by about 90%.
No one likes to be run over while dinning, or for that matter procreating. Both are important things for the right whale to be doing as it is estimated there are only about 350 North Atlantic right whales left in the whole world.
This is a very good idea.
Fishing rope entanglement is one more reason the North Atlantic right whales are dwindling. In 2005 an estimated 72% of them experienced a run in with fishing net, lines and ropes. This evidenced by the lasting scars. The whales can have the lines embed in them causing infections and death.
The North Atlantic right whale was hunted by New England Whalers as early as the 1600’s. Large amounts of oil from their blubber was used for fuel and they made whips and combs from their jaws. Once killed their carcasses float.
It’s been more than 100 years since they were hunted off the coasts of New England. They never made a comeback.
Photo Thanks:
#1 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
#2Wildlife Trust/NOAA fisheries
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The U.S. Coast Guard reports 3 tug boats are holding up the barge that was being towed by the Mel Oliver. The river is coated with oil for 100 miles from the center of New Orleans to the Gulf of Mexico.
There is confirmation that the tugboat was being operated without a properly licensed pilot at the time of the accident.
Photo thanks: Petty Officer 2nd Class Chris Lippert
Labels: Area to Be Avoided, Mississippi River, North Atlantic right whale, U.S. Coast Guard, oil spill
© 2009, Pacific Spirit Marine Institute.
The ‘Right Stuff’ for the Right Whales.
