2004 Archives

16 December 2004

COSEWIC evaluates the narwhal and the North Pacific right whale

Members of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) evaluated the situation of 22 Canadian plant and animal species during their November meeting. Two of these were cetaceans: the narwhal and the North Pacific right whale.

COSEWIC suggests that the Canadian government modify the narwhal status, granted in 1987, from Not at Risk to that of Special Concern. This designation is justified by uncertainty surrounding the actual number of hunted animals, population size and trends along with certain biological parameters. COSEWIC members also point out that the effects of a decline in Arctic ice coverage caused by climate change could have an impact on the narwhal that is presently difficult to evaluate.

In aerial surveys carried out by Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), researchers evaluated the Baffin Bay sub-population to be in excess of 50 000 animals. The Hudson Bay population, which was evaluated in the same manner, was determined to be between 3 000 and 6 000 animals. According to Pierre Richard–researcher in DFO’s Arctic research division–an average of 420 narwhals are hunted annually by Inuit communities in Canada. When losses are taken into account, the true number of animals killed is higher; one animal is lost for every three that are landed. Greenland hunters also kill Baffin Bay narwhals. According to COSEWIC, this hunt could pose a threat if it is not efficiently managed.

In the past the narwhal hunt was managed solely by DFO through a system of quotas. Bilateral community-based management will eventually replace this system. Communities will have to adopt their own hunting regulations through the intermediary of the Hunters and Trappers Organization. They will also have to establish a system whereby DFO and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (NWMB) will be able to track the evolution of hunting activities (number of animals landed, lost, injured, etc.). Three communities are presently involved in a three-year trial period: Qikiqtarjuaq, Pond Inlet and Repulse Bay.

As for the North Pacific right whale, COSEWIC proposes that it maintain the Endangered status granted in April 1990. Sightings north and south of British Columbia waters make it inappropriate to classify the species as extirpated. Also, aerial surveys carried out by U.S. researchers in 2004 revealed 25 individuals, including three cow-calf pairs. The Canadian government will study COSEWIC status proposals in coming months to determine whether or not these species will be included on the official list of species at risk in Canada. Species included on this list will be protected by the Species at Risk Act and thus become the objects of action or recovery plans, depending on the status accorded them. [COSEWIC, NWMB]

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On COSEWIC site :

2 December 2004

Over 200 cetaceans come ashore on the beaches of Australia and New Zealand

In less than three days more than 200 long-finned pilot whales and around 20 bottlenose dolphins stranded on beaches in Australia and New Zealand. Some fifty pilot whales were returned to the water. Scientists have put forward several hypotheses to explain these spectacular strandings. They may be linked to a climatic cycle that pushes cold, nutrient-rich Antarctic waters towards Australia’s coast.

The first stranding occurred on Sunday, November 28 on King Island, located in Bass Strait between continental Australia and the southern state of Tasmania. Approximately 25 bottlenose dolphins and around 50 pilot whales were found stranded on a beach. Half of them were already dead when rescue teams arrived on the scene. Efforts to return live animals to the water were in vain. At the same time, another team was attempting to maintain another group of 17 pilot whales off shore, concerned that they too would become stranded. The next day the whales were all found dead on a nearby beach. A few hours later over 50 pilot whales were reported stranded on a beach on Maria Island, southeast of Tasmania. Rescue teams and researchers were rapidly dispatched to the site to attempt to save the cetaceans. Of the 53 beached pilot whales, approximately 34 of them were returned to the water through the prolonged and tireless efforts of the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, the police, researchers and volunteers.

Another mass stranding of 70 pilot whales took place on Tuesday, November 30 several hundred kilometres east of Australia, on a Coromandel Peninsula beach in New Zealand. Some of the animals were still alive when intervention teams arrived on the scene. Department of Conservation (DoC) employees and volunteers attempted to return the survivors to the water. After several hours of sustained effort, 20 pilot whales were saved, however a spokesperson for the DoC expects several of the whales will eventually succumb due to their weakened state.

The 19 Maria Island carcasses were transported to a remote beach for necropsies and to extract samples. The carcasses were then towed offshore. Divers are concerned that the carcasses will attract sharks, thus endangering their regular activities. Skin and stomach samples were also taken form the cetaceans that beached on King Island. As for the fifty pilot whales that died in New Zealand, an enormous pit was dug on the beach to bury them.

The simultaneous strandings that occurred in Australia and New Zealand are probably just a coincidence. Several hypotheses have been put forward to explain them. It is unlikely that seismic gas and oil exploration in Bass Strait was the cause; these activities took place over the course of the weekend more than 500 km from the stranding sites. Nonetheless, conservation groups and the Australian Greens are demanding that seismic activities be interrupted during the whale migration period given the growing number of mass strandings associated to powerful underwater sound emissions elsewhere in the world. For their part, the Australian navy denies having conducted activities using sonar in this area. Presently, the most plausible explanation–the influence of a climatic cycle, the Zonal Westerly Winds (ZWW)–was published by Tasmania University researchers Mark Hindell and Karen Evans last July. According to this hypothesis, winds from Antarctica push cold, nutrient-rich waters from Antarctica near the coast of Australia, increasing local productivity. These conditions then lead certain cetaceans closer to shore, rendering them more vulnerable to stranding. According to Mark Hindell, Australia is presently in the middle of one of these cycles, corresponding with years when the number of strandings should be high. Therefore, he expects more strandings to take place both this year and next year. [Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, News.com.au]

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On Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service site :

18 Novembre 2004

Global warming: decline in Antarctic krill and multiple effects in the Arctic

A recent study that appeared in the prestigious scientific journal Nature demonstrates a serious decline in a small crustacean: the Antarctic krill. Researchers are concerned that these changes may have serious repercussions on the rest of the ecosystem, particularly on animals that feed on krill, such as whales, seals and penguins.

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) researchers analyzed data pooled from surveys carried out over 40 summers–between 1926 and 2003–by nine countries. These surveys suggest an 80 percent drop in the biomass of krill in the southwest Atlantic near the Antarctic Peninsula since the 1970s.

Researchers suspect that the warming of the Antarctic climate is responsible for the decline; the average temperature of the Antarctic Peninsula has risen by 2.5^oC in 50 years. One of the consequences of this warming is the loss of sea-ice in the Antarctic. Researchers are not yet able to clearly explain the connection between the warming, the decrease in the sea ice and the decline in krill. One hypothesis is that over the winter krill feeds on microscopic algae contained in the ice. A decrease in ice therefore implies a reduction of winter food reserves.

Yet, some researchers question the conclusions of the BAS. Steve Nicol, an expert at the Australian Antarctic Division, believes that the krill biomass may have been greatly underestimated given the difficulties involved in detecting these tiny animals, which are distributed over a vast territory. He also believes that the krill may have moved deeper due to changes in ocean circulation or to avoid the dangerous ultraviolet rays that blast surface waters. Finally, according to Mr. Nicol it is possible that a growing number of whales feeding on krill may be responsible for this decline, not the loss of sea-ice.

Elsewhere, a group of 250 researchers from eight different countries–including Canada, Denmark, the United States, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia and Sweden–published a report early this month entitled the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) on disturbing climate changes in the Arctic. Of the changes noted, researchers mention rising temperatures (3 to 4^oC in 50 years), the melting of the icecap (15 to 20 percent in the past 30 years), changes in the distribution and abundance of species, melting of the permafrost and coastal erosion. These changes will certainly have major implications on the long-term survival of arctic animals, on native communities and on maritime transportation.

By better understanding polar ecosystems, researchers hope to be able to predict how these habitats will react to future changes and how communities that depend on them will adapt. However, according to specialists, the effects of the warming of the poles will be more than just local; they will be felt all over the world. The melting of snow and ice in polar regions, which reflect the rays of the sun, could increase absorption of the sun’s heat and, consequently, further warm the entire planet. The great ocean currents that regulate a large part of regional and global climates could also be modified by an increasing influx of fresh water from the melting polar ice. [BAS, ACIA]

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On Aquanews Vancouver Aquarium site :

4 November 2004

Europe says no to high-intensity sonar

During a meeting in Strasbourg, France in late October, the 25 Member States of the European Union adopted a resolution concerning the use of powerful sonar. In a vote of 441 in favour, 15 against with 14 abstentions, parliamentary representatives accepted the implementation of a moratorium on the use of high-intensity sonar in their jurisdictional waters. The ban is also to include NATO activities. Furthermore, with the adoption of this resolution, Member States are also committed to the study of mass strandings and deaths associated to loud underwater sound transmissions. At the same time, the European Commission will be studying the potential impacts of the use of high-intensity sonar in the marine environment. Finally, the Commission and Member States will work to develop international agreements to regulate noise levels in the world’s oceans.

With the adoption of this resolution, the European Parliament recognizes that several stranding events and mass deaths have been associated with the use of high-intensity sonar. Included in these events are those that occurred in Greece in 1996, in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1998 and 1999, in the Canary Islands in 1985, 1986, 1989 and 2002 and in the Bahamas in 2000. The Parliament and its Member States also recognize that powerful underwater sounds represent a serious threat to marine life, including cetaceans and fish.

The adoption of this resolution is the result of strong pressure from several scientific and conservation groups. The use of powerful sound for military, scientific or commercial ends has raised controversy in several countries. One year ago in the United States, the U.S. Senate exempted its Defence Department from two environmental laws, thus allowing almost unlimited use of these types of sonar. In the province of Quebec, the Bureau des audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) recognized that powerful sound sources provoke physiological damage and can kill organisms in close proximity. It considers a precautionary approach to be imperative with regards to any seismic surveying carried out in the St. Lawrence Gulf and Estuary. [European Parliament, Whales Online]

This just in (12 November 2004)

Following the adoption of the resolution by the European Union, the 16 Member States of ACCOBAMS–an agreement for the conservation of the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and regions adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean–also adopted a resolution to the effect that human generated noise can disturb, injure or even kill whales and other marine species. The resolution is aimed at limiting the use of powerful sounds in the marine environment, encouraging research pertaining to the subject, developing alternative technologies and, by 2007, developing regulations on sound-generating activities. Spain was the first country to react to the European Union resolution; it announced a ban on all military activities in the waters surrounding the Canary Islands.

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On European Parliament site :

14 October 2004

CITES member countries reject whale trade

The annual conference of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was held in Bangkok, Thailand from 2 October to 14 October 2004. A total of 160 member countries participated. Three resolutions concerning cetaceans were studied and voted on during the conference.

Two resolutions concerning minke whales were proposed by Japan. The first called for the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to conclude and adopt the Revised Management Scheme (RMS), a plan for the management of whaling activities. This resolution was rejected by a vote of 63 against, 57 in favour with 13 abstentions. The second resolution put forward by Japan proposed the lifting of the ban on the trade of meat and other products derived from Northern Hemisphere minke whales. This proposition implied transferring minke whales from Annex I, which generally bans all international trade of species listed, to Annex II, which allows for trade through export permits. Japan justifies its position by stating that minke whales are numerous, that trade would be closely monitored and controlled using genetic fingerprinting and that whales consume large quantities of fish. Japan added that the adoption of this resolution would simply maintain the status quo, officially allowing Japan, Norway and Iceland to carry on with their trade. Opponents, such as Australia, argue that it would be very difficult to efficiently monitor this trade and that the adoption of this resolution could harm relations between CITES and the IWC. The resolution was rejected by a total of 67 votes against, 55 votes in favour and 14 abstentions.

Finally, a resolution concerning the Irrawaddy dolphin was proposed by Thailand. This species–native to both fresh and salt waters of Asia–numbers only 1000 individuals. Its survival is heavily threatened by habitat destruction and accidental entanglement in fishing gear. International trade in live specimens, which began in the 1970s, is on the rise. Given the fragile state of the species, Thailand believes that trade threatens the survival of the few remaining populations. Therefore it proposed a ban on international trade by transferring the Irrawaddy dolphin from Annex II to Annex I. Certain countries, including Japan, Norway and Gabon, have stated that they are against this resolution. They affirm that several thousand of these dolphins remain and that including them in Annex I would not counter the main threats faced by this species. Despite this, the resolution was accepted with a strong majority of 73 votes in favour to 20 votes against, with 8 abstentions. This decision pleases several conservation organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund U.S. and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. [ENN, WDCS]

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CITES site :

7 October 2004

Protecting North Atlantic and North Pacific right whale populations

Major efforts are being deployed to protect and learn more about right whale populations depleted by whaling. What follows is some good news concerning these animals.

Modification of shipping lanes: encouraging results

In July 2003 the shipping lane that passes through the Bay of Fundy—feeding ground for nearly two thirds of the 325 North Atlantic right whales—was modified in an attempt to avoid ship strikes. In an interview with the New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, biologist Moira Brown of the New England Aquarium stated that results of this preventative measure are surprising. By moving the shipping lane six kilometres to the east, researchers estimate that ship strikes may have been reduced by 95 percent. There have been no collisions reported in the Bay of Fundy since the adoption of this measure and only 1.5 percent of the whales were spotted in the new shipping lane in 2005, compared to 30 percent in the old shipping lane. In the United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has developed a strategy to modify certain East Coast shipping lanes. Consultations concerning these modifications are set to take place next week in Boston.

Fishing gear competition announced

This week the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and NOAA launched the "Large Whale Gear Competition". This competition is aimed at developing new fishing gear that will reduce the risk of great whales—such as right whales—becoming accidentally entangled. Seventy percent of all North Atlantic right whales are marked by injuries or scars caused by fishing gear. Several U.S. government agencies and conservation groups are working together to develop ways of preventing the accidental entanglement of cetaceans in fishing gear. As many as five teams will be awarded grants of up to US$10 000 each to develop their prototypes and participate in an at-sea competition in the autumn of 2005. The winning team will receive a grant of US$50 000 to complete the development of their prototype and to carry out at-sea tests with fishermen in the spring of 2006.

North Pacific right whales are more numerous than previously thought

Data from the summer of 2004 have allowed NOAA researchers to double the number of known North Pacific right whales from 13 to 25 individuals. Thanks to satellite tags attached to the backs of two right whales in 2004, researchers located a new site frequented by this species in the southeast portion of the Bering Sea. Three cow/calf pairs were also observed, leading researchers to believe that the population could be growing. The first calf sighting in a century in the Bering Sea was made in 2002. This population was severely depleted by commercial whaling in the early portion of the XX Century and illegal whaling in the 1960s. [Aquanews, The New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, Sitnews]

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On Vancouver Aquarium’s Aquanews site :

30 September 2004

Oceans of Noise: a WDCS report on noise pollution

After several years of work, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) science team has just published a report entitled Oceans of Noise. This report focuses on up-to-date knowledge of the effects of marine environment noise pollution on cetaceans.

Authors Sarah Dolman, Daniel Owen, E.C.M. (Chris) Parsons, Mark P. Simmonds, René Swift and Lindy Weilgart had originally published the first edition of this report in May 2003 and submitted it at the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) that same year. In September 2004, Oceans of Noise was updated to include the IWC Scientific Committee’s conclusions from their meeting in July 2004on the impacts of anthropogenic noise on cetaceans.

There are many sources of noise in the marine environment, everything from natural sources–like the sound of waves–to powerful sonar used by the military. As for the notable and suspected effects on marine mammals, they are both numerous and serious to the point of causing death. Several mass stranding events have been linked to the use of low frequency sonar. It has been suggested that the deaths of these animals could have been caused by the bends, a condition also suffered by human divers who surface too quickly.

In this report, the authors also present an action plan to counter the threat represented by noise pollution in the marine environment and to diminish its potential effects on marine mammals. Among other things, they suggest that international laws be developed and adopted to regulate noise pollution in the world’s oceans. Further suggestions include: that navies avoid the use of powerful sonar, especially those that use low frequency sound and reduce activities that generate loud, underwater noise; that military and industrial development projects in the marine environment undergo a public evaluation and include a public commitment to reduce noise pollution as much as possible; that national and international conservation zones take into account sources of noise pollution that are outside their limits and establish buffer zones. The authors emphasize the importance of international collaboration to counter this growing threat to the marine environment. [WDCS]

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On WDCS site :

16 September 2004

Good news for the bowhead whales of the Canadian Arctic

An intensive, three-year study conducted by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada suggests that the Eastern Arctic bowhead whale population is much more abundant than previously thought. In the light of new data collected over the course of the summer of 2004, this population is now estimated to number in the thousands. In the Bowhead Whale Conservation Strategy unveiled in February of 2004, the population was estimated at 700 whales. In an interview with CBC News, Dr. Susan Cosens, who is in charge of bowhead whale research, was unable to reveal exact numbers; calculations have yet to be completed.

In the past, bowhead whales were highly sought after by whalers, which lead to their decline. In 1980, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) granted the bowhead whale the status of endangered species. Population estimates at the time were in the hundreds. Consequently, subsequent to the next COSEWIC evaluation, the Eastern Arctic bowhead whale status could be downgraded to a lower risk category. According to Dr. Cosens it is still too early to predict if this new estimate will have any effect on the hunting quotas allotted to Inuit whalers. For now they are allowed to hunt one bowhead from the Hudson Bay and Foxe Basin population every two years. Only one bowhead whale from Baffin Bay and Davis Strait population is taken approximately every 13 years. [CBC.ca News]

This just in! (30 September)

Dr. Susan Cosens has revealed further details in an interview with Whales Online. The most recent estimate of bowhead whales in the Canadian Arctic is based on aerial surveys conducted between 2002 and 2004. Researchers discovered bowhead whales in unsuspected areas such as Prince Regent Strait north of Baffin Island over the course of these surveys which covered a wider territory than in previous years. Although the final tally is not yet complete, Dr. Cosens is confident that the new population estimate will top 3000 individuals and that all bowhead whales will henceforth be considered as belonging to one population.

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On CBC.ca News site:

2 September 2004

Humpback whale astray in a Nova Scotia power plant

A young humpback whale has been caught in the reservoir of the Annapolis Tidal Power Plant situated in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia. The six metre long whale likely entered the reservoir by the sluice gates of the plant while following a school of fish.

Jerry Conway of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is in charge of operations aimed at helping the whale get back to the open ocean. When the whale approached to within a few metres of the gates, representatives from DFO had hopes that it would return to the Bay of Fundy on its own. But boats in the area likely distracted the animal. Unsuccessful attempts were also made to attract the humpback whale through the gates by playing recordings of the vocalizations of feeding humpback whales. This technique did attract the whale’s attention; it swam a total of 4.5 km towards the sound source before turning around a mere 35 m from the dam. The humpback whale has only a few hours or even minutes during the day to escape while the water in the reservoir and the Bay of Fundy are at the same level.

Mr. Conway’s main concern is that the whale may beach itself on a reef in the reservoir. The whale has on occasion ventured forth in to very shallow areas, rubbing its back on the bottom and slapping the surface with its pectoral fins. If the whale were to become stranded there would be little chance of freeing it.

The power plant has ceased operations since the whale entered the reservoir. There are only three power plants of this kind in the world. The Bay of Fundy is an ideal place for this type of plant; the tidal range is over 15 m. The reservoir fills up when the tide comes in. Then, when the tide goes out, water passes through a turbine producing electricity as it flows back into the Bay. The Annapolis Tidal Power Plant supplies electricity to 4000 homes. [Aquanews, ENN, CTV, Le Soleil]

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On Environmental News Network site:

26 August 2004

Ham, sushi, hamburgers and meatballs…made from whale meat?

Although the Norwegian whaling season was set to end on August 31 of this year, whalers put away their harpoons a few weeks earlier than expected. During the three-month season Norwegian whalers killed 543 minke whales. The quota set by Norwegian authorities was for 670 minke whales. Consequently, the Norwegians did not reach their quota this year. Curiously, Norway is looking to increase this quota and encourage the consumption of whale meat in coming years.

The organization that manages the sale of whale products halted the 2004 whaling season stating that the whales already killed in coastal waters were sufficient to satisfy the demand. Quotas for the three coastal zones were filled; 89 minke whales killed in the North Sea, 323 in the Barents Sea and 113 off Spitsbergen. It was the offshore quota that was not fulfilled. Of a quota of 145 minke whales, less than 20 were harpooned around Jan Mayen Island, near Greenland.

Despite this, Norway may increase its annual quota to 745 minke whales in 2005. The Norwegians believe that the management scheme established by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) upon which they base their quota is often too conservative. According to Norway, not only is it important to avoid hunting too many whales so as not to endanger them, it is just as important not to hunt too few and risk compromising the commercial fishery. However, this hypothesis is highly debatable. In 2004, Daniel Pauly and Kristin Kaschner of the University of British Columbia published an article on the interactions between fisheries and marine mammals. They concluded that, globally, whales consume non-commercial fish species in areas where fishing does not occur.

Beyond a desire to protect fisheries, the Norwegians also want to increase their kills of minke whales in order to encourage internal trade in whale products. Nation-wide distribution of whale meat is burdensome given the limited volume. The annual consumption of whale meat per person is estimated at 200 g, the equivalent of one meal. To increase demand, Norwegian authorities hope to launch a campaign to promote the consumption of whale meat in the form of whale ham, whale sushi, whale hamburgers and whale meatballs. [Le Soleil, Nature, High North Alliance].

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On Whales Online:

29 July 2004

Annual meeting of the IWC: a step towards lifting the moratorium?

The International Whaling Commission held its 56 annual meeting in Sorrento, Italy from July 19 to 22. The Commission’s Danish president, Henrik Fischer, set the tone right from the beginning by stating that members must honour the IWC’s mandate by agreeing on a procedure and timeframe for the progressive resumption of commercial whaling. This declaration polarized the IWC more than ever.

It wasn’t until the very end of the meeting that members adopted a resolution committing the IWC to completing its Revised Management Scheme (RMS) and possibly adopting it at the next meeting, which is to be held in 2005. The RMS is the procedure that would be used to calculate whale stock abundance and to set quotas. The adoption of the RMS would lead to a lifting of the moratorium and the progressive resumption of commercial activities.

Some moderate anti-whaling countries and conservation groups are in favour of the official resumption of commercial whaling in order to ensure proper control and monitoring of these activities by the IWC. They are worried that if members do not come to a consensus and the moratorium persists, certain whaling countries will withdraw from the IWC and hunt outside of its control. Other anti-whaling countries believe that the RMS is not rigorous enough to prevent abuse and poaching. As for whaling countries, several of them are becoming impatient with the inertia of discussions and the "conservation" tendency the IWC has taken on in recent years. As it stands, Japan has stated that it will withdraw from the IWC in 2006 if it is still dissatisfied with the organization’s decisions.

Of the conservation issues dealt with, the IWC’s scientific committee has declared that undersea noise generated by military sonar and oil and gas exploration is the cause of a growing number of cetacean deaths. Several environmental groups that ardently defend this point of view applauded the declaration. This month, once again, military exercises were believed to be the cause of the stranding of 200 melon-headed whales off the coast of Hawaii and the stranding of two other whales in the Canary Islands. Scientists have recommended the establishment of marine protected areas to protect marine mammals from undersea noise.

Members also adopted various resolutions on proposed whaling methods. A Working Group on Whale Killing Methods and Associated Welfare Issues will be integrated into the IWC. Its goals will be to set better criteria for determining the death of an animal as well as improving present whaling practises. This resolution was adopted in response to the "Troubled waters" report that was signed by 200 organizations from 58 countries that criticized present whaling methods.

The 2005 annual meeting will be held in Ulsan, Republic of Korea.

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15 July 2004

Live stranding of cetaceans: climate may be to blame

As many as 54 pilot whales beached themselves in early July on an isolated island in the Gulf of Carpentaria in northern Australia. This event is one in a series of mass or individual strandings that take place every year in certain areas of Australia. Strandings in these areas often involve pilot whales or sperm whales. By mid-June of this year five sperm whales had come ashore in the Stranhan sector of Tasmania. Four of them died and the fifth, a 14-metre male that came ashore apart from the rest, was successfully returned to sea. In November of 2003, over 100 pilot whales and a dozen bottlenose dolphins beached themselves approximately 50 km from Stranhan.

Researchers have several hypotheses for the phenomenon of individual or mass live cetacean strandings. Disease, injury or infection could affect their sense of direction. A change in the magnetic field or specific topography could lead them astray. In the case of mass strandings, whales could be following a disoriented leader or an animal in distress. Finally, very powerful low-frequency military sonars could also provoke this type of stranding.

During a conference presented to the Australian Marine Science Association in early July, two researchers from Tasmania University unveiled the results of a study that included new information to explain this mysterious occurrence. Mark Hindell and Karen Evans reviewed archives going back to the 1920s and analyzed over 360 individual or mass stranding events that occurred along southeastern Australian coastlines, particularly in the states of Victoria and Tasmania. The researchers rapidly detected a cycle of approximately 10 years in the number of strandings in these areas. This cycle coincides with another cycle–this one climatic in nature–related to the intensity of west winds (the Zonal Westerly Winds, or ZWW). During periods of persistent westerly winds, cold nutrient-rich waters from Antarctica are transported closer to Tasmanian coasts, thus increasing local productivity. These conditions may lead cetaceans nearer to shore, making them more vulnerable to stranding.

Hindell and Evans hope that their discovery will help intervention teams predict years of higher numbers of strandings, allowing them to prepare personnel and equipment to meet the demand. [The Australian Marine Science Association Inc, news.com.au]

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1 July 2004

Luna relocalization plan suspended

Last October, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced that it was planning on reintroducing a young, solitary male killer whale named Luna to his family group in Juan de Fuca Strait on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Over the winter, DFO and the Vancouver Aquarium worked to develop a reintroduction strategy for Luna and to raise sufficient funds to carry out the operation. Now those plans have been compromised by the intervention of the Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation.

Specialized teams have been preparing to capture Luna since mid-June. The killer whale was to have been held in an enclosure for several days so that veterinarians could conduct a series of tests. Once the veterinarians gave the go-ahead, the whale was to be transported by truck to Pedder Bay on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. There, Luna would have been held in an enclosure until he could come into acoustic contact with other, free-swimming killer whales in the area and be set free.

On June 16, Mowachaht-Muchalaht natives in canoes led Luna to an area some 7 km from the enclosure. The chief stated that he had deliberately led Luna away from the capture site, saying that there is a bond between himself and the young whale believed to be the reincarnation of a deceased chief. Following these events, people in charge of the operation decided to suspend Luna’s capture for the weekend in order to allow Mowachaht-Muchalaht people to carry out their cultural traditions with the animal.

One week later, DFO announced that the project had been suspended for an undetermined period in order to conduct further discussions with First Nations concerning possible options. Representatives of the Vancouver Aquarium admitted to being disappointed, in light of the considerable efforts that had been deployed over recent weeks to organize the operation, although they still consider that relocalizing the whale is in the whale’s, and the public’s, best interest. DFO maintains that the main goal is to reunite Luna with his kind and recommends that any interactions with Luna be avoided. A similar operation was successfully carried out with a young female killer whale named Springer in 2002. Springer was re-sighted last June 28 with her family group in Johnstone Strait. [Vancouver Aquarium, DFO, ENN]

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On Vancouver Aquarium site:

17 June 2004

Right whale protection: the United States may modify shipping lanes

The United States is presently considering the modification of shipping lanes along the East Coast to protect North Atlantic right whales from ship strikes. The proposed strategy is being developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

For now, shipping lane changes and speed reduction are being considered for the Cape Cod, Great South Channel (off Cape Cod) and Gulf of Maine feeding grounds. Speed limits may be established for shipping lanes that pass through calving grounds off Georgia and Florida. Finally, speed limits may also come into force for ports along the right whale’s migration route. Proposed measures would apply to all domestic and foreign vessels over 20 metres (65 feet) in length.

The study is in the public consultation phase until August. NOAA aims to propose regulation by early 2005, after having completed a full evaluation of environmental and economic impacts. U.S. authorities hope this measure will contribute to raising the level of protection of this endangered species.

The first shipping lane modified to protect an endangered species was in Canada. Ever since July 2003, ships have had to follow a new route to avoid an area frequently used by North Atlantic right whales in the Bay of Fundy.

Ship strikes are responsible for 50 percent of all deaths (excluding newborns) of this species. There are no more than 325 North Atlantic right whales left. A collision took place this year involving a female carrying a near-term foetus. Aerial surveys carried out in 2004 counted 16 newborn calves in the waters off the coasts of Georgia and Florida; this represents a good year for the species. [NOAA, ENN, Aquanews]

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On National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) site:

3 June 2004

The Gully: Second Marine Protected Area in the country

On May 14, the Honourable Geoff Regan, minister of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced the official designation of the Gully Marine Protected Area (MPA). This designation comes 6 years after it was identified as an Area of Interest under Canada’s Ocean Act MPA program.

The Gully is an underwater canyon situated approximately 200 km off Nova Scotia near Sable Island on the edge of the Scotian Shelf. Its depth, size and biological diversity make it unique among the other underwater canyons in the same area. Rare species of deep-sea coral and other invertebrates colonize the steep sides of the Gully, while a wide variety of commercial and non-commercial fish, including swordfish and tuna, inhabit its waters. Also, 14 species of marine mammals–pinnipeds and cetaceans–use this ideal habitat at different times of the year. A population of approximately 130 northern bottlenose whales resides here. This population was classified as "endangered" by COSEWIC in 2002 and is presently undergoing a process to be included on the Canada’s List of Species at Risk under the Species at Risk Act. The Gully canyon area has always been recognized as an important site for fishing and, in recent years, a major source of oil and natural gas. The area is under increasing pressure from this sector of activity.

The Gully MPA is 80 km long, 50 km wide and 2 500 m deep. The total surface area is 2 364 km². The establishment of an MPA here is aimed at protecting this unique ecosystem while allowing for the sustainable use of its resources. "The disturbance, damage, destruction or removal of any living marine organism or habitat within the Gully…" is prohibited. However, certain activities, such as fishing for halibut, tuna, shark and swordfish will be allowed, but closely monitored. Meanwhile, other scientific and commercial activities will undergo rigorous evaluation. Activities that take place in areas adjacent to the Gully will be closely monitored by DFO in order to ensure that they do not disturb or damage the MPA.

The Gully is the second MPA to be designated in Canada after he Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents MPA in British Columbia. Eleven other sites are presently under DFO review, including the St. Lawrence Estuary–a major feeding area for several marine mammal species–and the Manicouagan Peninsula on the North Shore. [DFO]

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On Fisheries and Oceans Canada site 

13 May 2004

Whaling season opens in Norway…opponents protest

The Norwegian whaling season began on Monday, May 10. Norway will hunt a total of 670 minke whales this year. The season will end August 31 and most of the minke whales will be hunted in the Barents Sea, north of Norway.

Norway is the only country in the world still hunting whales commercially despite the international moratorium on whaling that was decreed by members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 1982. Whale meat is a highly prized traditional Norwegian food. Blubber, on the other hand, is neither consumed nor used in Norway and remains stockpiled in freezers. Hopes of exporting this product to Japanese consumers were quashed in May 2003 when Japan refused to import Norwegian whale blubber due to the high levels of PCBs that it contained.

A large number of environmental groups are opposed to whaling activities. Last March, a report entitled "Troubled Waters"–that was signed by 200 organizations representing 58 countries–criticized present-day whaling methods. Several of these organizations are participating in a campaign to ban whaling, hoping to pressure the IWC into putting an end to all commercial and scientific whaling.

The IWC will be holding its 56^th annual meeting in Sorrento, Italy from July 19 to July 22, 2004. This commission was created to manage whale populations for a sustainable whaling industry. Members have been working for several years to develop a management plan known as the Revised Management Scheme. However, many member countries are increasingly adopting a "conservation" alignment. The establishment of a conservation committee last year had the effect of satisfying anti-whaling countries, while frustrating those that were for the hunt. These countries–finding that their voices are not being heard–regularly threaten to pursue their activities outside of the IWC. [BBC]

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On BBC site:

22 April 2004

CITES questions the sustainability of narwhal hunting activities in Canada and Greenland

The CITES Animals Committee held its annual meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa during the first week of April. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) drafts regulations concerning trade in endangered plant and animal species. During their meeting, members of the Committee examined available information on animals that are traded internationally (Appendix II) in order to identify potential problems related to commercial activities and to find solutions. This year the exploitation of narwhals by Canada and Greenland and associated commerce were evaluated.

The Animals Committee had already conducted a similar study on narwhals in 1995 and–seeing as how Canada and Greenland were relying on information dating back to 1979–had recommended that both countries carry out new surveys to establish quotas. New surveys were carried out only recently and the results bring to light troubling information concerning the state of narwhal and northern beluga whale populations. These results undermine the sustainability of hunting, particularly in Greenland. Contrary to what was previously shown, there is no shared Baffin Bay narwhal stock. Instead, there are probably five distinct populations in Eastern Canada and two in Western Greenland. These new surveys also demonstrate that populations in Western Greenland have been heavily decimated by regular minimum annual catches of 662 narwhals and 577 beluga whales.

The Committee once again this year put forward recommendations to Canada and Greenland to compensate for problems related to narwhal hunting. One of these recommendations is the inclusion of new surveys in any data used for the management of this activity. The two countries have six months to respond to the recommendations. If the Committee is not satisfied with the answers it receives, it will recommend appropriate action that could even include banning trade in narwhal products.

Therefore–for the first time in its history–leaders from Greenland passed a law a few weeks ago that will establish narwhal and beluga whale hunting quotas. Along with the quotas, the new regulations will limit hunting to licensed professionals only, prohibiting the killing of females and juveniles, the use of nets and establishing a minimum calibre for rifles. No quotas have yet been officially set. However, considering the results of the new surveys, researchers from the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources and the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) recommended quotas of 135 narwhals and 100 beluga whales in Western Greenland, which represents one fifth of what is presently being hunted. This new Danish government law is not popular among hunters who question the reliability of surveys and who consider that present hunting levels should be maintained.

In Canada, although the problem appears to be less serious, it does warrant concern. Two narwhal populations are hunted in Canada by Nunavut Inuit communities: the Hudson Bay population and the Baffin Bay population. The skin and blubber–known as maqtaq–is consumed by the Inuit people or exchanged with other communities. As for the tusks, they are worth a lot of money. Hunting activities are jointly managed by the Nunavut Management Board and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. In 1998, 45 narwhals were landed in Hudson Bay of a quota of 55. On Baffin Island, 236 narwhals were landed of a quota of 467. Landed whales represent only a portion of the narwhals that are actually killed. According to one study, three out of every ten narwhals are lost during hunting. Aerial surveys counted 34 000 narwhals at the surface in the Baffin Bay area in 1979 and 1 400 in northern Hudson Bay in 1984. These estimates do not take into account animals that were diving and cover only a portion of the distribution areas of the two populations. [WDCS, Nunatsiaq, MPO]

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15 April 2004

Attempt to save an entangled right whale

A specialized team has been working relentlessly for several weeks to free a right whale that has become entangled in fishing gear. The rescue team is made up of representatives from the Center for Coastal Studies, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the New England Aquarium, the Wildlife Trust, NOAA-Fisheries and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The first reported sighting of the whale dates back to March 17 off St. Augustine, on the East Coast of Florida. It was tracked for a period of two weeks using a satellite and VHF telemetry buoy attached to the entangling gear by members of the team. On April 4, the captain of a fishing vessel from New Jersey found the telemetry buoy, with approximately 10 m of tether line, floating free.

Several disentanglement attempts were made over the course of this two-week period. On March 19, the team succeeded in removing at least one tightly embedded line just behind the blowholes and at least one wrap of line around the left flipper. Unfortunately, due to bad weather conditions, the whale’s high level of activity, its constant movement northward and its distance from the coast, other attempts to disentangle the whale were not successful or were aborted.

Several lines remain wound around the whale behind its blowholes and around its pectoral fins. These lines could cause serious injury and infection, especially as the animal is a one-year-old male that is still growing. Canadian and American disentanglement first response teams are ready to intervene if the whale is located again. Rescue teams are now dependent on aerial surveys and mariner sightings to locate the animal since the whale lost its telemetry buoy.

Entanglement in fishing gear represents a serious threat for this species, which is classified as endangered. Seventy percent of North Atlantic right whales bear fishing gear injuries or scars. There are less than 325 right whales left in the North Atlantic. The Center for Coastal Studies has received an average of fifteen calls per year concerning large whales–right whales, humpback whales, fin whales and so on–entangled in fishing gear since 1984. Sixty of these whales were successfully freed. Disentangling a whale is a complex, dangerous and often unsuccessful undertaking. This has motivated fishermen, several American government agencies and conservation groups to work together to develop ways of preventing the accidental entanglement of cetaceans in fishing gear. [CCS]

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On Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) site:

1st April 2004

Accidental entanglement prevention in Europe: ministers come to an agreement; environmental groups are disappointed

On March 23, ministers from the European Union met to examine the European Commission’s proposition to reduce marine mammal bycatch in northwestern Europe, particularly in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the English Channel.

The accidental entanglement problem poses a serious threat to the populations of small cetaceans that inhabit these European waters; several scientific reports have demonstrated that tens of thousands of cetacean deaths are attributable to fishing activities. To counter this threat, the European Commission had suggested the mandatory use of acoustic deterrents—known as "pingers"—on certain types of fishing gear. Furthermore, the Commission suggested that observers be present aboard fishing vessels to ensure proper use of these devices and to monitor their impact, as well as to monitor bycatch. It had also proposed a ban on the use of drift nets in the Baltic Sea as of 2007, as well as an immediate drift net length restriction of 2.5 km.

The measures that were finally adopted by the ministers are but a watered-down version of the Commission’s original proposals. The use of acoustic deterrents will only be obligatory on gillnets deployed by vessels over 12 m in length, while observers to monitor their use will not be provided. This measure will come into effect between June 2005 and January 2007, depending on the area. Also, on-board observers to monitor bycatch will only be present on vessels over 15 m in length. Finally, the ban on the use of drift nets in the Baltic Sea will come into effect in January 2008, one year later than what was proposed by the Commission. It should be noted that the European Union banned the use of drift nets in the Mediterranean Sea in 2002.

Several conservation organizations, such as the WWF, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), agree that the adopted measures do not sufficiently address the problem of accidental entanglement and that they affect only a small portion of the fleet in this area. [IFAW, WDCS, WWF]

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On WWF-Europe site:

18 March 2004

A new report condemns whaling methods

A recently published report takes a critical look at present-day whaling methods. Entitled "Troubled Waters", the report has been signed by 200 organizations from 58 countries. According to the authors–including popular naturalist Sir David Attenborough–this publication presents scientific and impartial proof that there is no humane way of killing a whale.

The report’s authors strongly criticize the absence of international regulations concerning whaling methods. According to their evaluation, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has never established rules with regards to maximum time allotted to pursuit, number of weapons or projectiles used on an animal, upper limits on acceptable time to death, rate of instant death and the number of animals hit but not recovered. Also, according to the authors, the established IWC criteria to determine an animal’s death are inadequate. This evaluation is supported by a group of scientists and veterinarians specialized in physiology and anatomy. They also judge that methods used are inappropriate for the larger species of whales.

The publication of the "Troubled Waters" report launches a campaign to ban whaling. More than 140 organizations from over 50 countries will participate in this campaign to put pressure on the IWC to end commercial and scientific whaling operations.

Pro-hunting countries and organizations have reacted to this criticism of whaling methods. In a press release, the secretary of the High North Alliance–a Norwegian organization that defends whaling–affirms that modern whaling is both humane and respectful of the environment. He also maintains that whales killed in the wild suffer far less than farm animals.

The debate over the lifting of the whaling ban is increasingly dividing IWC member countries. Members have been working to develop a whaling management plan, known as the Revised Management Scheme, for several years now. This plan is to include–among other elements–directives on "humane" whaling methods. The adoption of the Scheme is a sine qua non condition for the lifting of the ban. [ENN, High North Alliance, WDCS]

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4 March 2004

Fisheries and Oceans Canada undertakes recovery of Pacific killer whales

On February 26, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced that it will begin recovery planning for two West Coast killer whale populations. In November of 2001, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) had listed the northern resident population as threatened and the southern resident population as endangered. These two populations have therefore been included on Canada’s List of Wildlife Species at Risk. Under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), the government is required to develop recovery and management plans for these species.

DFO has assembled a group of experts to form the Resident Killer Whale Recovery Team. The team has been mandated to examine potential threats that could impede the recovery of West Coast resident killer whale populations and recommend steps to government for the protection and recovery of these populations.

A DFO workshop is planned in the spring of 2004 to give researchers, stewardship groups and community and industry representatives a chance to contribute their expertise and knowledge to the development of the recovery plan. Public consultations are planned for the fall of 2004.

Due to the fact that killer whales frequent waters south of the border, representatives from the United States have also been invited to join the recovery team. The southern resident population of killer whales is listed as "depleted stock" under the American Marine Mammal Protection Act. Moreover, Washington State is considering adding the southern resident population to its own endangered species list, which would enable it to adopt supplementary protection measures and develop its own recovery plan. [DFO, Vancouver Aquarium]

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On Fisheries and Oceans Canada site:

19 February 2004

Release of Conservation Strategy for Bowhead Whales in Canadian Waters

On February 10, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced details of the Conservation Strategy for Eastern Canadian Arctic bowhead whales. This strategy–the result of work that began in 1999 by DFO, the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (NWMB) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Canada)–lists potential threats to population recovery and strategies for conservation.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) designated Canada’s eastern Arctic population as "Endangered" in 1980. Commercial whaling in the 19th and 20th centuries decimated bowhead whales, as it did several other species of whales. Today, the eastern Arctic population has been divided into two sub-populations based on their summer distribution areas. The Hudson Bay-Foxe Basin population numbers 345 animals, while the Baffin Bay-Davis Straight population numbers between 350 and 375 animals. There are three other Arctic populations of bowhead whales, two of which also remain highly endangered.

Of the potentially limiting factors for recovery, the recovery team identified predation by killer whales, pollution, man-made noise, tourism, climate change and the abandonment of the hunt, which could lead to a loss of interest and respect by the Inuit for this species and its habitats. Other factors–considered to be lesser threats–were also targeted. These include ice entrapment, fishing gear entrapment, subsistence harvesting, disease and food competition.

The conservation strategy includes five objectives favouring population recovery:

• identify and protect important whale habitat,
• establish a long-term monitoring and research programme that will continue to combine scientific and Inuit knowledge,
• ensure a sound, sustainable and continuing Inuit subsistence harvest of bowhead whales,
• ensure that human activities do not adversely affect bowhead whales or their habitat,
• communicate this conservation initiative in Nunavut and beyond.

The bowhead whale–known as "arvik" or "arviq" to the Inuit–is an important element of their traditional way of life. Inuit have hunted bowhead for food, oil, shelter material and other products for at least 2000 years. Inuit know-how has been used, along with scientific knowledge, in the elaboration of the conservation strategy. The recovery team considers that the harvesting of one bowhead whale every two years from the Hudson Bay-Foxe Basin population and one every 13 years from the Baffin Bay-Davis Straight population would not threaten the species. Along the same lines, the Inuit recognize that harvesting must undergo careful surveillance and rigorous management. [Fisheries and Oceans Canada]

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Department of Fisheries and Oceans of Canada Site:

5 February 2004

American Congress Invests in the Protection of North Atlantic Right Whales

The announcement was made last Monday: the American Congress is allocating US$685 000 to a North Atlantic right whale conservation project. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) had been working for a year and a half in partnership with Congressman Bill Delahunt of Massachusetts, Senator Edward Kennedy, the Massachusetts Lobsterman’s Association and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries to obtain the federal funding.

The funding–along with private sector funds collected by IFAW–will be invested in a project aimed at reducing the risk of right whale entanglement in lobster fishing gear used in Massachusetts. Lines that connect lobster pots represent a risk for right whales. The lines presently used are made of a floating material; whales run the risk of becoming entangled in them when they dive or feed. The project involves replacing these floating lines with lines made from a material that sinks, thus reducing the risk of entanglement. The project will be coordinated by IFAW and will include the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.

Accidental entanglement in fishing gear constitutes one of the limiting factors identified in the Canadian recovery plan for this species, which is classified as endangered. There are less than 325 right whales left, 70 percent of them bear wounds or scars caused by fishing gear. [IFAW]

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On IFAW site:

22 January 2004

The WDCS and Greenpeace Investigate Bycatch in the Northeast Atlantic

The Greenpeace vessel the Esperanza left port in London on January 21 with scientists from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) aboard. The team is on a six-week mission in the English Channel, the Celtic Sea and the Bay of Biscay. The purpose of this mission is to conduct an in-depth evaluation of the impact of fisheries on small cetaceans in the northeast Atlantic.

Every year hundreds of dead cetaceans wash up on English and French beaches. These represent but a fraction of the animals that die annually in fishing gear. The authors of a report prepared by the WDCS for Greenpeace state that some 10 000 common dolphins, Atlantic white-side dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, pilot whales and harbour porpoises–to name only the species most affected–die every year in the various types of fishing gear that are used in this region. The WDCS and Greenpeace are concerned that bycatch levels may threaten certain populations. According to these two groups, trawling for sea bass, mackerel, hake, albacore tuna and horse mackerel is the deadliest fishing technique currently being used in the northeast Atlantic. However, a representative from Interfish–a fish processing company in England–has stated that observers from the Sea Mammal Research Unit had confirmed that mackerel trawls did not threaten cetaceans.

The crew of the Esperanza hopes to better document the presence, abundance and distribution of small cetaceans along the English and French coasts, as well as bycatch in fishing gear. In its report, the WDCS estimates that information on the presence of cetaceans in winter in these areas is limited, that measures taken by the European Union to reduce trawler bycatch are inadequate and that the number of fisheries observers should be increased in order to better document the problem of bycatch. [BBC, WDCS]

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BBC News site:

15 January 2004

Sonar Use: A U.S. Federal Court Decides in Favour of Industry

Sonar use still raises plenty of controversy in the United States. The source of the conflict this time is a system developed by Scientific Solutions Inc. to detect whales using sonar.

A little more than a year ago the company was conducting the first tests of its system off the coast of California. Environmental groups took the company to court declaring that the environmental impacts of the project had not been evaluated before the tests began. The judge sided with the environmental groups and temporarily blocked the project, ordering Scientific Solutions Inc. to conduct environmental assessments before applying to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for a new permit.

On December 24, 2003, the company obtained its permit and sonar testing began in early January. Scientific Solutions Inc. believes that the system is safe and that it will help protect whales from dangers such as ship collisions and underwater explosions associated with oil exploration.

Environmental groups went back to court a day after testing began, once again requesting that the judge order a halt to testing. They claim that the company’s assessment was inadequate and that the sonar could disorient the whales, drive them from their feeding grounds and separate mothers from their calves. This time the judge decided that the environmental groups did not provide sufficient proof to justify halting the project. However, he did acquiesce to their request for a hearing to decide whether or not to ban research on the system. The hearing is set to take place next Thursday. [ENN, The Olympian]

This just in: The federal court judge came down with a decision Friday, January 16. Scientific Solutions Inc. researchers will be allowed to continue testing their sonar system on migrating grey whales in the Pacific Ocean. They affirm that no whales have been injured since testing recommenced last January 6. Environmental groups retain their position and add that Scientific Solutions Inc. and the NMFS have not considered potential effects on harbour porpoises, which are particularly sensible to noise. [CNN]

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