The University of Rhode Island (URI) developed and used an acoustic device to detect whales near the Block Island offshore wind farm. Specifically, MARIMBA (Marine Mammal Monitoring at Block Island Using Acoustics) was developed by six ocean engineering students who deployed it in close vicinity of the 30MW offshore wind project.
A joint project between Equinor Wind US, the Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution was launched, aiming to expand the detection and monitoring of whale species found in the waters of New York Bight.
The Japanese fleet that fishes whales returned after killing 333 minke whales in the Southern Ocean. According to the Japanese Institute of Cetacean Research from the 333 killed whales, 186 were male and 181 female. Over 50% of the females were adult and preliminary analysis, such as pregnancy rates, suggest healthy fertility of the species.
A group of environmental organizations in Iceland sent an open letter to their Parliament protesting the Government’s decision to allow whale hunting until at least 2023. The letter is signed by Gaia Iceland, Jarðarvinir, Reykjavik Animal Save, Reykjavik Whale Save, Samtök grænkera á Íslandi, Sea Shepherd Iceland, SEEDS Iceland and Stop Whaling in Iceland.
The B.C. government will continue expanding its ferry routes, despite National Energy Board’s statement that specifically BC Ferries generate ship noise that threatens the endangered southern resident killer whales. Although there is a plan to reduce underwater noise, BC ferries alerts that the change will be slow.
The Government of Canada published an infographic in favour of protecting North Atlantic Right Whales. Whales can be injured or killed when they become entangled in fishing gear. Mainly, the areas on the infographic are based on the latest science and reflect where most of right whales are expected to be foraging.
Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District and its partners in an initiative to cut air pollution and protect endangered whales announced results from the 2018 program and recognized the 12 shipping companies that participated, reducing speeds to 10 knots or less in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Santa Barbara Channel region.
A Japanese fast ferry is said to have been collided with a whale on March 9, off the coast of Sado Island, Japan, resulting to passengers’ injury. Japan Coast Guard and operator Sado Steam Ship believe that the object was a ‘marine animal,’ possibly a whale.
HM Coastguard was called into action after a 25ft humpback whale beached itself at Oban in Scotland, on 28 February. A multi-agency response was called for with Oban, Appin and Inveraray Coastguard Rescue Teams all sent along with Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service.
