Tag: whales

​Ports of Auckland have reported that ship speeds in the Hauraki Gulf are down 25 percent and there have been no whale deaths in the last two years, following the introduction of an initiative to reduce ship speed.

The Port of Vancouver has launched a series of project under its 'ECHO Program' with the aim to provide a better understanding of vessel-related cumulative regional threats such as vessel underwater noise and its effects to marine environment.

AMSA has issued Marine Notice in order to provide guidance to shipowners, operators and seafarers to reduce the risk of collision with cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), in accordance with IMO Circular MEPC.1/Circ.674.

A new paper from Wildlife Conservation Society describes how the Automatic Identification System (AIS) can help protect wildlife such as whales and walruses.

An excellent example of how industry and regulatory bodies can work with environmental activists to provide good results for the benefit of all, writes Sarah Nowak.

When an endangered orca is in hot pursuit of an endangered salmon, sending out clicks and listening for their echoes in the murky ocean near Seattle, does the noise from the nearby shipping lane interfere with them catching dinner? To find out, scientists measured underwater noise as ships passed their study site 3,000 times. This unprecedented characterization of ship noise will aid in the understanding of the potential effects on marine life, and help with possible mitigation strategies.

NOAA Fisheries is expanding critical habitat for endangered North Atlantic right whales to cover its northeast feeding areas in the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank region and southeast calving grounds from North Carolina to Florida.

The Federal Court has fined Japanese whaling company Kyodo $1 million for hunting whales within an Australian whale sanctuary

 The Coast Guard is helping to get the word out about the importance and effectiveness of speed limits and the responsible use of the safety exception as they relate to the North Atlantic Right Whale. Therefore,  some of the annual seasonal speed restrictions, in the mid-Atlantic areas, came into effect on November 1, 2015 and will remain in effect until April 30, 2016.“NOAA’s robust and practical enforcement strategy has yielded very positive results – particularly on approaches to pilot stations.” said Rear Adm. Paul Thomas, assistant commandant for prevention policy.“The safety exception is an important part of the process. We greatly value the input provided by professional mariners, who benefit from a reasonable enforcement approach that considers the challenges of ensuring safe navigation in confined waters.”Also,  the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is conducting a survey of its North Atlantic Right Whale Mandatory Ship Reporting (MSR system). The purpose of the survey is to evaluate and improve the MSR program.If you are a mariner operating or working on a vessel 300GT or greater on the east coast of the United States, or who has operated in this area in the past, NMFS is seeking your input on ...

The UK P&I Club reminds operators of the speed restrictions which exist off the US coast.