2007 Archives

13 December 2007

Arctic beluga whales victims of global warming

Times have changed in the Arctic: increasing hunting pressure, melting permafrost intensifying levels of contaminants such as mercury in the ocean and melting ice. The latter threat is possibly the most significant for northern beluga whales. Ice-free waters could render these animals more vulnerable to killer-whale attacks as well as increasing shipping traffic in Arctic waters.

Researcher Jeff Higdon, who works for Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and is associated with the University of Manitoba, initiated the Orcas in the Canadian Arctic project in 2005. He reports that in certain parts of the Arctic, killer whale sightings have increased fivefold. Only six of these whales were spotted in Hudson Bay in the 1980s. In the 1990s, only six more were sighted. However, over 30 killer whales have been so far reported since 2000.

Opinions differ when it comes to explaining this phenomenon. The decreasing ice cover could be responsible for the arrival of killer whales from the west. Others say that better monitoring combined with the end of commercial whaling in the 1970s could explain the rise in observations of this species. The explanation may also be a combination of all of these factors. What is certain is that, according to recent NASA studies, data from the last two winters has revealed a dramatic decline in ice cover in the Arctic. While it had been declining on average about 1.5 percent per decade since 1979, there was a six-per-cent drop in each of 2005 and 2006. As for summer ice, it continues to decline at a rate of 10 per cent per decade.

Inuit reactions also differ. More killer whales means less prey, including beluga whales, narwhals and bowhead whales, all animals valued both culturally and for their nutritive value. However, beluga whales react to the presence of killer whales by hugging the shore, thus facilitating the hunter's job.

Research sheds light

The Orcas in the Canadian Arctic project will provide answers to Inuit concerns. A system of hydrophones has been deployed in order to record the vocal behaviour of killer whales that changes when these predators catch their prey. Pierre Richard's team from DFO is also attaching satellite tags to the backs of beluga whales to not only track their migration patterns, but also to record the areas they visit in order to evaluate their exposure to predators.

Less ice, more ships

Southeastern Hudson Bay has not seen much shipping traffic since the last whaler left in 1939, yet shipping traffic has begun to rise in recent years. The huge Penny Ice Cap and the massive 2 200-metre high mountains of this area have begun attracting luxurious cruise vessels. Added to this are the numerous ships that may also soon arrive in search of oil, gas and minerals. Increased shipping traffic could well affect beluga whales on their feeding and calving grounds. [Edmonton Journal, Global National]

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On the Edmonton Journal site:

6 December 2007

New device to reduce harbour porpoise bycatch

The 2007 edition of the annual International Smart Gear competition-launched by the WWF in May 2004 to reduce the accidental entanglement of marine animals in fishing gear-came to a close last month. The British inventor, Andy Smerdon of Aquatec Group in Hampshire won an award for his Passive Porpoise Deterrent device, a passive apparatus that takes advantage of harbour porpoise echolocation, alerting them to the presence of fishing gear. The system consists of resonant acoustic reflectors that increase a fishing net's “visibility” for certain cetacean species. Harbour porpoises emit clicks in order to form images of their surroundings and potential obstacles in their vicinity. Their sonar clicks are amplified by the reflectors making them appear to the porpoise to be much larger objects than they truly are, and alerting them to danger.

Acoustic devices have been used to reduce accidental entanglement since the 1990s. However, relatively high costs have hindered their use. Furthermore, they are not always reliable over the long term and they contribute to noise pollution.

On a global scale, it has been evaluated that nearly 60 000 cetaceans die annually due to fishing gear, especially harbour porpoises, along with other species of marine mammals, such as seals, otters and dugongs, as well as seabirds, sea turtles and sharks. The accidental capture (bycatch) of sea animals is therefore a critical environmental and economic problem, but not one without solutions, as demonstrated at the International Smart Gear competition that brought together and rewarded industries, research institutes, universities and governments that worked to efficiently diminish this threat. This year a total of 70 projects from 22 countries, including Finland, Thailand, New Zealand, Russia, Kenya, Malaysia, participated in the competition. [WWF, Hydro International]

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On the WWF site:

22 November 2007

Japanese whalers head out to sea to hunt humpback and fin whales in the Antarctic Ocean

Controversy once again surrounds the beginning of Japan's Antarctic hunt. Its initial scientific whaling programme, known as JARPA, killed more than 7 000 Antarctic minke whales between 1987 and 2005. In 2005 Japan announced an even more ambitious scientific whaling programme: JARPA II. After two years as a “pilot project”, JARPA II was officially launched on Sunday, November 18. It's objective is to kill up to 935 minke whales, 50 fin whales and 50 humpback whales.

Several environmental organizations, with Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd in the lead, are vehemently opposed to this hunt, while some IWC (International Whaling Commission) member countries, like New Zealand and Australia, have publicly condemned Japan's new programme.

Scientists are also concerned about this programme. In an open letter to Japan that appeared in the New York Times in 2002, 21 scientists from around the world requested that Japan put an end to scientific whaling. Their objections were that Japan's scientific whaling programme was not set up in such a way as to answer pertinent scientific questions for the management of whale stocks, that Japan refused to allow their results to be examined by independent committees and that these programmes did not include any hypotheses to be tested or other performance indicators generally used in science. Scientists from the IWC's Scientific Committee also supported these critiques. Recently, members of this same committee signed an article that specifically targets Japan's new Antarctic whaling programme, with particular criticism of the addition of humpback whales to the list of species to be hunted.

In this article, the authors emphasize that the IWC Scientific Committee's analysis of the JARPA programme concluded one year ago that its objectives had not been attained, despite 20 years of effort by a large, well-funded research laboratory. The JARPA II programme includes very few changes from the original programme, apart from an increase in the number of whales to be killed and the addition of two new species. According to the authors, although Japan's scientific whaling programme may be legitimate under the terms of the IWC, it has increased in scope to the point of going well beyond the spirit of this measure.

The authors are concerned about the impact that this hunt may have on certain populations that remain fragile. Both humpback and fin whale populations were depleted to near extinction in the Antarctic Ocean where, over the course of the XX Century, 200 000 and 700 000 of them were killed respectively. Today, most humpback whale populations have recovered, abundance indices are at 50 percent of what they were before the hunt. Yet, some populations, notably those that reproduce near Fiji, New Caledonia and New Zealand remain low. Once they reach their feeding grounds in the Antarctic Ocean it is impossible for whalers to distinguish whether they are from a healthy or fragile population. As for fin whales, their numbers in the Antarctic Ocean are unknown, although scientists believe that they are experiencing a slow increase.

The authors conclude that, beyond the alarming issue of the impact of harvesting on population recovery, the Japanese programme should be debated in a larger, political context. They emphasize the obligation of every country to respect international agreements. The ban on commercial whaling came into effect in 1986. In 1994 the IWC decreed the Southern Ocean a whale sanctuary, off-limits to whaling. [Environment News Service, Nature Precedings]

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Article that appeared 12 November 2007 on the Nature Precedings site:

8 November 2007

The humpback whale season has begun in the Hawaiian Archipelago; a workshop on whale-watching safety measures is being held this week.

The first humpback whale of the season was spotted at Lanai, Hawaii, a Pacific Ocean archipelago made up of 122 islands that is visited by 2 000 to 5 000 humpback whales between the months of November and May for mating and calving. Sightings are the most numerous in February and March. Safety rules are necessary in this environment; as a matter of fact, a workshop on the operational rules to avoid ship strikes is getting underway as these lines are being written on November 8.

According to researchers from the Pacific Whale Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation and education pertaining to whales, these whales travel between 4 000 and 4 800 km annually between their feeding grounds and their mating grounds. Part of the Pacific humpback whale population feeds in Russian and Alaskan waters, swimming to Hawaii in the winter, while others move between the coastal waters of North America and Mexico, at the same latitude as the Hawaiian Archipelago.

Hawaii is recognized as the main mating and calving ground for these threatened animals. The only marine sanctuary dedicated to their protection, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary therefore covers these grounds. Although the North Pacific humpback whale population is increasing at a rate of between five and seven percent, their overall numbers-estimated at between 6 000 and 10 000-remain below pre-harvest levels. These whales are classified as “endangered” under the United States' Endangered Species Act.

Protection measures for the Hawaiian humpback whales

The Pacific Whale Foundation, which has been offering whale-watching tours for the past 27 years, has equipped one of its vessels with a Whale Protection Device, the first of its kind to be used in the United States. This system guides the whales away from propellers, without affecting the ship's performance or increasing noise.

Those in charge of the Sanctuary, including the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will be conducting workshops from November 8 to 20. The objectives of the workshops are to inform whale-watching tour operators of ways to avoid collisions with whales that are often found in shallow water. The workshops will also deal with the dangers presented by the exuberant behaviour of these 45-tonne animals: breaches, caudal and pectoral fin slapping. The Sanctuary's directors recommend speed reduction, vigilance on whale-watching sites and the respect of a 100 m zone around the whales. A workshop on what tour operators can do in case of accidental entanglement will also be developed; in all, seven cases of whales entangled in fishing gear were reported in 2006. Workshops will be free and open to all Hawaiian tour boat operators. [Pacific Whale Foundation, National Marine Sanctuary]

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25 October 2007

Another victory for the North Atlantic Right Whales : The IMO adopts measures to avoid the Roseway Basin in Nova Scotia

From October 3rd to 12th of this year, the 83rd session of the International Maritime Organization (or IMO, a major branch of the United Nations) was held in Denmark. It was during this event that the committee on maritime security of the IMO adopted a proposition put forth by the Canadian government to define the Roseway Basin in Nova Scotia as a seaway to avoid on a seasonal basis for ships of 300 tons or more. This decision constitutes another victory for the right whales of the North Atlantic, after the rerouting of a major commercial navigation lane in the Bay of Fundy in 2003. This is the third time in four years that the governments of Canada and the U.S. displace a shipping lane away from critical whale habitat.

The Roseway Basin, situated at approximately thirty nautical miles south of Cape Sable Island in Nova Scotia, is one of only two known regions where numerous right whales assemble in Canadian waters on a seasonal basis to feed and reproduce. With an estimated population of 400 individuals, the North Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered species of great whale, often falling victim to ship collisions and other accidents.

The period for which the IMO calls for the avoidance of the sector by merchant ships extends from June 1st to December 31st. Moira Brown, senior scientist with the New England Aquarium in Boston, is the main instigator of the new Canadian measures that issue from a long process spread over many years and that group together all the regional stakeholders in maritime commerce.

Not all protective measures are equally accepted

In 2005, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. had prepared a set of conservation strategies and new regulations with the aim of reducing the risk of collision with North Atlantic right whales in American waters. One of these propositions, deriving from five years of consultations, meant to reduce the speed of merchant ships to less than 10 knots during the winter, a period during which right whales migrate along the east coast of the U.S. The American government has not yet adopted the measure, even though the threat to the species is real and its status is very critical, Between 1960 and 2000, right whales were two times more likely to be collision victims than all other species of great whale and just since the announcement of the protection plan, three right whales died after colliding with ships. Overall, it would seem that the deferment of the adoption of protective measures is more related to financial reasons than scientific ones. New England scientists continue to maintain that risk of collision would be reduced by 40% if ship speeds were to go from more than 20 knots, to a maximum speed of 10 knots within the area of the Roseway Basin. [NEA, Washington Post]

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On the site of the New England Aquarium :

11 October 2007

Northeastern Pacific resident killer whales will continue to be affected by past exposure to PCBs until at least 2030

A recent model, elaborated by Brendan Hickie's team from Trent University, Ontario Canada, has enabled researchers to predict that PCB levels accumulated in the tissues of northern resident killer whales will only be low enough to be considered below the “effects threshold” by 2030, while the southern population's concentrations will only reach this level by 2063. The effects of PCBs on individual health include changes to immune function, neurological development, growth and reproductive health. This translates into effects on the population. According the authors, U.S. and Canadian tissue residue guidelines for aquatic animals do not protect predators at the top of the food chain.

Populations in peril

PCBs

Being very persistent molecules, their release into the environment led to the troubling phenomena of bioaccumulation in wild and domesticated animals, as well as effects on human health. The potential risks associated with the use and elimination of PCBs began to be known in 1966 when the presence of PCBs was detected in the Great Lakes for the first time. By 1977, concern surrounding the effects of PCBs on the environment led to a ban on the fabrication and importation of PCBs in North America.

Newborns and males most contaminated

Guidelines insufficient for the protection of killer whales

The same scenario is also true for other contaminants that are similar to PCBs: polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs). PBDEs are used as industrial fire retardants. Although not regulated, they are raising ever-increasing concern as their levels are rising exponentially in the environment and could lead to health concerns; PBDE concentrations in St. Lawrence beluga whales are doubling every three years. [Environmental Science and Technology]

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On the Environmental Science & Technology site:

27 September 2007

Three unusual blue whale deaths in California

Three blue whales have been found dead near Ventura, California in the past two weeks, likely victims of ship strikes. Necropsy examinations were carried out on two of the whales under the supervision of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (SBMNH) in collaboration with the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute (CIMWI) and the Marine Mammal Center (MMC). Results of genetic and biochemical analyses conducted on various tissues should be made available within four weeks. Fishermen and whale watchers have noted large numbers of blue whales this year, likely associated with an abundance of food. Between 50 and 60 blue whales have been frequenting the area since the beginning of the month. On September 25, the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the federal government to set speed limits for ships in the Santa Barbara Channel.

Timeline

The first carcass was discovered drifting in the port of Long Beach, likely brought there on the bow of a ship. After tissue samples were taken, it was towed offshore. The carcass that came ashore several days later south of Long Beach—at Ensenada on the Mexican coast—could be the same individual. On September 14, a 22-metre-long female blue whale weighing in at 54 to 63 tonnes stranded on a Ventura beach; a necropsy was performed. The carcass had numerous fractures, likely due to a ship strike. Tissue samples were taken for analysis, however faecal and stomach samples could not be recovered. On September 22 a 20-metre-long blue whale was found drifting in Santa Barbara Channel. It was towed to a beach in Ventura. Experts who carried out the necropsy affirm that the animal was alive at the time of collision due to signs of internal haemorrhaging and the nature of fractured bones in the skeleton and in the skull. The whale died instantly. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) considers the blue whale an endangered species.

Algal bloom suspected

Occurring as they do so close together in time and space, these deaths are unusual. Only six blue whale deaths have been documented in the area since 1980. Experts suspect the presence of domoic acid in the water, a toxin associated with certain algal blooms. Due to high mortality rates of sea lions and dolphins, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) initiated a study in April 2007. This neurotoxin can lead to memory loss and cerebral damage that can in turn lead to death in mammals (marine and humans). Consumption of molluscs, shellfish and fish is prohibited during blooms. The warming of water masses, combined with the use of fertilizers and detergents that inevitably find their way to the sea, contribute to the proliferation of red algae. [ Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, The Marine Mammal Center, Los Angeles Times, Environment News Service]

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On Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History site:

20 September 2007

Eastern Pacific grey whale population has not yet recovered

Intensive XIX Century whaling decimated many whale populations. Some populations, such as the Atlantic grey whale, completely disappeared. Although the western Pacific grey whale population is still on the verge of extinction, scientists believed that the eastern Pacific population, found in the Bering Sea and along the west coast of North America, had recovered and had even attained the carrying capacity of its environment. A recently published report by Stanford University Ph.D. student Liz Alter and her team has revealed that this population, presently evaluated at 22 000 animals, was likely three to five times more plentiful during the pre-whaling era.

Genes that retrace the pass

The research team studied genetic diversity in order to estimate this population's pre-industrial size; the larger a population, the more genetic variability is accumulated, and this variability is maintained over a very long period of time. By comparing 10 regions of the genomes of 42 grey whales, Alter and her colleagues discovered that genetic diversity was way too high to come from a population of a mere 22 000 animals. Using available genetic models, the researchers calculated that the initial population was between 76 000 and 118 000 animals.

Whales play a key role

The reduction of the grey whale population through whaling—from 100 000 to only 20 000—led to profound changes in their ecosystem. Because of their unique feeding method, grey whales are a key species in the marine ecosystem. These “bulldozers” use their short baleen to filter sediment. As they rise to the surface, long plumes of mud and crustaceans they failed to capture trail behind them. Near the surface, these prey become accessible to seabirds. The grey whale population was therefore once possibly able to “feed” a million birds.

Climate change responsible

Earlier data led researchers to believe that at 22 000 the population had attained the carrying capacity of its environment. In fact, mortality spikes combined with the sighting of many thin whales led researchers to believe that there were too many whales and not enough available food. However, the new data supports another explanation of the changes in the population's dynamics between 1999 and 2001. Climate change, that affects ecosystems on a large scale, may have contributed to an increase in Arctic Ocean water temperatures, consequently reducing the availability of grey whale prey. The eastern Pacific grey whale is therefore still in need of protection. Further studies of their complex habitat are required to ensure their survival.

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On the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Site:

6 September 2007

Cat faeces could infect marine mammals

A recent study carried out by the National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) has highlighted the problem of domestic cat faeces dumped into the sewer system that could infect cetaceans around the British Isles.

Cats are the main hosts of Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite present around the globe that infects mammals—including humans—and birds. The parasite, which reproduces in the small intestine, is eliminated through faeces into the outside world and can survive for over a year in a humid environment. A study carried out in the coastal waters of the United Kingdom has revealed that of 101 cetacean blood samples, eight carried the parasite: 1 of 70 harbour porpoises, 6 of 21 common dolphins and the only humpback whale analyzed.

Dr. Edward Guy, head of NPHS's Toxoplasma Reference Unit, affirms that little is known about the level of infection in marine mammals around the British Isles, nor about how this parasite entered into their environment. However, a California study has demonstrated that cat faeces were a potential source of the toxoplasmosis infection of sea otters. These results led to legislation against the disposal of cat faeces down the toilet. According to Dr. Guy, the situation around the British Isles warrants further research.

A team from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) studied a total of 328 seals between 1995 and 1997. The four species studied were the harp seal, the grey seal, the harbour seal and the hooded seal. Harp seals were the only species not to carry the parasite. [National Public Health Service for Wales, DFO]

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On the National Public Health Service for Wales Site

30 August 2007

Iceland abandons commercial whaling

Iceland has just announced that it will be terminating its commercial whaling programme; this programme had resumed just one year ago. Iceland's fisheries minister, Einar K. Guofinnsson, affirmed that he will not be issuing new quotas, at least as long as markets are not favourable to whale products and Japanese markets remain closed to Icelandic whale meat. Last year Iceland had lifted an embargo that had been in place since 1986 by setting quotas for 30 minke whales and 9 fin whales. However, only seven whales of each species were actually killed due to low demand.

Whale meat: a healthy choice?

Potential buyers of whale meat had expressed a desire to have contamination test results made public in order to ensure the meat's quality. Minke and fin whales have life expectancies of between 50 and 100 years respectively. As a result, they accumulate toxic substances for many decades through a process known as bioaccumulation. Furthermore, due to the fact that these two species are high up in the food chain and that contaminant concentrations are amplified with each level up the food chain, they accumulate higher levels of contaminants in their fatty tissues than many other animals. This phenomenon is known as bioamplification.

Divergent opinions regarding whaling

The latest announcement by Iceland's fisheries minister has not received unanimous approval. While countries opposed to whaling are pleased, Icelandic whalers are not comforted by this news. According to them, the government should not be deciding whether or not the market is favourable. Gunnar Bergmann Jonsson—who leads a minke whaling association—doubts the logic of being able to find a market for whale meat when the product itself is not even available.

Scientific whaling is in as much trouble as commercial whaling

Iceland also conducts a scientific whaling programme that targets minke whales. Said programme was scheduled to take place over two years starting in 2003 and result in the harvesting of 200 animals. Yet, after four years of hunting, the quota has not yet been attained. The meat from this hunt is also sold on the open market. [ABC News, Greenpeace]

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On ABC News site:

16 August 2007

Speed kills: sea speed limits are difficult to establish

In July 2006 the United States’ National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) proposed ship speed limits in specific areas along the east coast at certain times of the year for vessels exceeding 19.8 m in length. These measures were aimed at reducing the risk and severity of collisions with North Atlantic right whales, a species that has been on the United States’ Endangered Species List since 1973. The White House has blocked this project in response to pressure by foreign shipping companies.

Too much of a sacrifice, according to some

Due to negative economic impacts on the shipping industry, the World Shipping Council has expressed its opposition to the speed limit. Furthermore, the Council has voiced doubts as to the efficiency of such protection measures. The U.S. government has therefore asked the president’s Council of Economic Advisors—a consultation committee working on U.S. economic issues—to review existing data concerning the principal causes of right whale deaths. Several NMFS experts have already carried out this work, and their results clearly show that ship strikes are the main cause of death of adult right whales.

The right whale, under observation from every angle

Specific measures are already in place to protect North Atlantic right whales in the United States. This species is protected under both the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which is similar to Canada’s Species at Risk Act. The right whale recovery strategy was revised in 2005. It includes measures that include approach distance limits, navigator awareness programmes along the east coast of the United States and the broadcasting of recent right whale sightings using radio warnings. Another system that obliges vessels over a certain size to report when they enter into key whale zones also offers increased protection. Using this system, ships receive recent right whale sighting data along with information on how to avoid collisions. For its part, the NMFS can gather data on the use of these zones by commercial vessels.

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On Federal Register site:

2 August 2007

A new communication tool dedicated to the North Atlantic right whale

The Canadian Whale Institute just launched a new website entirely dedicated to the North Atlantic right whale, an endangered species whose world population does not exceed 400 individuals. Despite the protection efforts put into place since 1935, no population increase has been noted. Rightwhale.ca underlies those efforts undertaken in Canada to protect the species. The creation of this website has been made possible with the support of the Government of Canada Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk, the Canadian Whale Institute and the New England Aquarium.

A large proportion of the North Atlantic right whale population frequents Canadian waters. Several individuals can even be observed over and over again from one year to the other. The Bay of Fundy, for instance, is a major feeding and nursery ground and is thus a very important habitat for the species. Others areas such as the Roseway Basin off the coast of Nova Scotia and the Gulf of St. Lawrence are also integral parts of its summer distribution. Because right whales use its waters so extensively, Canada plays a key role in the species' recovery.

Several conservation measures have been put into place to decrease the number of collisions between right whales and vessels as well as the number of entanglements in fishing gear, the two primary human-induced mortality causes for this species. For example, the relocation of shipping lanes within the Bay of Fundy, implemented since 2003, is expected to cause an 80% risk decrease in ship strikes with right whales. Rightwhale.ca strives to provide scientific information on right whales for fisheries and maritime commerce industry as well as the scientific community and the general public. In addition, this website will be used to facilitate the exchange of information between fishermen and biologists, eventually leading to the development of modifications to fishing practices in order to reduce the incidence of entanglement.

In order to reduce human-induced mortalities, several emergency networks have been created in Canada as well as in the United-States. In the St. Lawrence, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network provides assistance to marine mammals in distress. Right whale observations can be reported by calling the toll-free number: 1-877-7baleine (1-877-722-5346). [Rightwhale.ca, Canadian Whale Institute]

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On Right whale.ca:

19 July 2007

Public consultations are open for resident killer whale recovery strategy

The general public has 60 days to submit comments concerning the recovery strategy for northern and southern killer whales present off Canada's Pacific Coast. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Pacific Region) is in charge of elaborating a recovery strategy. In 2001, COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) designated the southern and northern populations as “endangered” and “threatened” respectively.

These two populations that live along the west coast of British Columbia are acoustically, genetically and culturally distinct. Both are considered at risk due to low numbers, low reproductive rates and threats of human origin, such as environmental contamination, reduction in the availability or quality of prey and physical and acoustic disturbance. The two populations are also listed in Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

The recovery strategy includes four main objectives: ensuring that resident killer whales benefit from adequate and accessible food, minimizing the effects of chemical and biological contaminants, minimizing disturbance associated with human activities and protecting critical killer whale habitat and identifying additional areas of potential aggregations.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, the University of British Columbia and several other organizations carry out long-term studies on British Columbia's killer whale populations. Researchers primarily use photo-identification to monitor the 500 or so killer whales that live near British Columbia's shores. Other techniques, such as the acoustic analysis of vocalizations and the analysis of DNA from biopsy samples, are also employed.

While they are also present in the western North Atlantic, killer whales are rarely observed in the St. Lawrence Estuary. The status of this population cannot be determined due to a lack of data. On a global scale, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) has designated killer whales as a “low risk” species. [Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Vancouver Aquarium, Canadian Wildlife Service]

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On the Species at Risk Act (SARA) site:

5 July 2007

Mythical humpback whale is a powerful force

Although whales have always fascinated humans, some of them are particularly compelling. Such is the case of a certain humpback whale that haunts the Queensland coast in Australia. Its name is Migaloo and, in contrast to its fellow humpback whales that are mainly black, it is entirely white.

Migaloo has recently made the headlines by influencing the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to move its military exercises from Shoalwater Bay, Queensland. The reasoning behind the eventual relocation is that the sonar used by ADF could disturb cetaceans in the area. Commander Peter Lockwood has stated that while special precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of the marine mammals, other sites are being considered for future exercises.

Migaloo's white colour remains a mystery for University of Queensland researchers who study the migrations of this humpback whale population. He could be an albino or, more likely, simply an animal with white pigmentation. The results of genetic analysis have revealed that Migaloo is a male whale. According to University of Queensland research head Dr. Mike Noad the white whale is a member of a humpback whale population that “is doing extraordinarily well”. Dr. Noad's team estimates that as many as 10 000 humpback whales will undertake the annual migration to the Great Barrier Reef.

Concerns over ADF military exercises are mainly associated with high intensity sounds generated by some of their equipment. The overall effect of noise pollution on whales depends on sound intensity and distance of the animals from the source. If the sound is powerful and the whales are close it could lead to permanent hearing loss, internal injuries and even death. Less powerful sounds can nonetheless lead to temporary hearing loss. Due to the fact that whales use sound during most of their daily activities, such as eating, orientation and communication, a hearing problem could represent a serious handicap and may even prove fatal. [University of Queensland, ABC News, Sydney Morning Herald]

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On University of Queensland site:

21 June 2007

A survivor who reveals secrets about the longevity of his species

A harpoon fragment dating back to the XIX Century was found in a bowhead whale that was captured last May near Barrow, Alaska. The animal, which had survived a similar attempt on its life over one hundred years ago, carried the projectile lodged in its right scapula beneath its thick layer of blubber.

The fragment was found by the crew of captain Arnold Brower Sr. during the subsistence bowhead whale hunt carried out by Alaska Inuit. Bowhead whales are in the right whale family. The projectile is likely from a harpoon manufactured in New Bedford, Massachusetts, a major whaling centre at the end of the XIX Century. Researchers from the New Bedford Whaling Museum estimate the whale's age at between 115 and 130 years, the harpoon found in the whale having gone out of production in 1885.

Subsistence whaling, managed by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC), supplies scientific data as well as being a major source of food for the Inuit people. It is supervised by the International Whaling Commission, which recently renewed a quota for 225 whales to be harvested by 10 Alaskan villages over a period of five years.

The discovery of this harpoon fragment, while spectacular, is not a first. Five well documented cases of fragments from traditional whale-hunting tools recovered from recently killed bowhead whales have also been reported in scientific literature, suggesting life-spans in excess of 100 years of age in some cases. These anecdotes have been validated by the work of a team of researchers working on this species. Bowhead whales hold the record for longevity for cetaceans and could even live to the ripe old age of 200 years.

Researchers use a wide range of methods to determine a whale's age. Growth layers in teeth are used for toothed whales, while the age of baleen whales is often determined by analysing a wax plug in the ear. The bowhead whale has neither teeth, nor ear plug. Consequently, researchers had to develop another method, this one based on the gradual transformation of aspartic acid in the lenses of their eyes. [Anchorage Daily News, National Research Council of Canada, New Bedford Whaling Museum]

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On Anchorage Daily News site:

7 June 2007

59th meeting: the moratorium is upheld, but what is the future for the IWC?

A total of 71 of the 76 member countries were in attendance at the 59th annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) that was held in Anchorage, Alaska from May 28 to 31. The IWC was created in 1946 to manage whaling activities and whale populations, most of which had been decimated by intensive harvesting. In 1986 the IWC established a ban on commercial whaling, with subsistence hunting quotas for aboriginal communities in Alaska, Eastern Siberia, Greenland and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Japan's tentative compromise

Having formally objected to the moratorium, Iceland and Norway continue to hunt commercially. Japan captures over 1000 whales annually under a scientific whaling permit; meat from this hunt is sold in national markets. At the 2007 meeting Japan proposed to end this hunt if, in exchange, the IWC allowed its coastal communities to hunt and locally consume minke whales. This tentative compromise was rejected by the IWC and Japan has threatened to leave the Commission; a threat this country has made several times in the past.

For the past 20 years, pro-whaling countries, Japan in the lead, have been calling for the ban to be lifted and sanctuaries to be abolished. These proposals garnered 51 percent of the vote and were adopted as a resolution in 2006. Although a 75 percent vote in favour of a resolution is required for the ban to be lifted, this situation once more brings to light the polarization that exists between member countries that defend their respective positions and demand that their points of view and interests be heard. The IWC is therefore in a deadlock—if not in a situation of calling into question its very existence—as it is becoming increasingly difficult for the opposing factions to converge towards consensual decisions.

Three informal meetings to develop new possibilities

Consequently, three meetings took place outside the IWC in the months leading up to the annual meeting. The Japanese government met with pro-whaling countries in February in Tokyo to restate the initial role of the IWC, which is to manage a resource and, therefore, allow for its exploitation. However, Japan also agreed that a consensus should be sought within the IWC before proceeding with a vote on propositions. A symposium organized by the Pew Foundation was held at the United Nations in New York City in April. Independent experts, as well as those within the IWC were invited to analyze options for the conservation of whales and to search for new solutions for the future of the IWC. In the same spirit, Latin American countries met in Buenos Aires in December to also affirm their will to develop whale-watching activities instead of commercial whaling. Participating countries give a positive note, underlining several convergent points for the three meetings. [IWC, Bloomberg, Le Monde]

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31 May 2007

Two injured and wayward humpback whales in the Sacramento River, California

On May 13, two Pacific humpback whales—a cow and its calf—left their traditional migration route towards Alaska to swim up the Sacramento River in San Francisco. They travelled as far as 145 km upstream where they spent two weeks. Experts and rescuers were mobilised in an attempt to steer them back to sea while 10 000 excited onlookers followed their progress. The saga finally came to a happy ending on the evening of May 30 when the humpback whales left discreetly in the middle of the night.

Injured whales

Given the names Delta and Dawn by biologists, the two whales bore injuries typically associated with a ship strike. The cow has 60 cm gash near her dorsal fin that cuts approximately 15 cm deep into the blubber, but the cut does not appear to have reached muscle tissue. As for the calf, its injury is less visible situated as it is on the ventral side, most often under water. It appears to be just a flesh wound.

Rescue experts

Stalled at the port of Sacramento, the whales turned around in circles for several days. In the field, biologists from the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, the Coast Guard, marine environment experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the California Department of Fish and Game were mobilized to herd the whales towards the mouth of the River.

Failed efforts

After having established a 500 m security zone around the whales to protect them from the boats of curious onlookers, rescuers used acoustic techniques to attract them downstream. These included recordings of feeding humpback whales. In a similar case in 1985 the same type of operation attracted a humpback whale named Humphrey back to sea after a 26-day sojourn in fresh water. Biologists then attempted to orient the whales in the right direction by playing recordings of killer whales attacking a grey whale and its calf. They also generated noise by banging on the metal pilings of an adjacent bridge and by deploying a flotilla of 20 boats. In a final attempt to herd the whales, rescuers used fireboats equipped with high-powered hoses to create turbulence and walls of bubbles. All of these attempts were carried out over short periods so as not to cause too much stress for the animals.

The situation gets worse before it gets better

However, over time, the injuries of the two whales became worse due to the fact that fresh water is less efficient than salt water for healing. Therefore, biologists and veterinarians administered antibiotics. This operation that had never been attempted in the wild before, given the challenge represented in the choice of medication and the dosage. After considering using antibiotics destined for humans, biologists finally inoculated the whales with the bovine antibiotic Excede. In 24 hours, the state of the injuries improved and the two whales displayed their energy by breaching and tail slapping. Both whales finally headed out to sea on their own. [ Oroville Mercury-Register, Marine Mammal Center, abc7news, FOXNews, DentalPlans, Matinternet]

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10 May 2007

Eastern Pacific grey whales malnourished: an unexplained phenomenon

After a long migration, grey whales are arriving thin and exhausted on the Mexican coast and appear to be searching for food. Such are the observations of researchers from the U.S. group, Earthwatch Institute, who are preoccupied by the survival of these whales who may either be too numerous or have fallen victim to climate change.

Grey whales undertake 8000-km long annual migrations. They spend the summer feeding in the Bering Sea and in the western portion of the Beaufort Sea, along the coast of Alaska, British Columbia and California. Winter is given over to mating and calving along the coast of Baja California, Mexico.

A protected species that is more abundant than before whaling

This Northern Hemisphere species, which has disappeared from the Atlantic Ocean, is present only in the North Pacific where it had been hunted intensely since the XVII Century, bringing to the brink of extinction. Protected since 1937, the Eastern population, estimated at 24 000, is now more numerous than it was before commercial whaling. For this reason, it was down listed from an endangered species in the United States in 1994 and is often cited as model for population recovery. The Western population off the Russian coast, on the other hand, is estimated at approximately 100 and is endangered, having fallen victim to commercial whaling, accidental entanglement in fishing gear and oil and gas exploration activities.

What is emptying the pantry, El Niño or the whales themselves?

Animals that appear undernourished have been observed since the late 1990s, suggesting that they may have reached or even surpasses the carrying capacity of their environment. Too numerous, they may have depleted their prey. In 1997-1998 the warming of Pacific Ocean waters by El Niño provoked a drop in oxygen levels that led to a sudden decline of the biomass. Species affected were mostly benthic amphipods, a staple food source for grey whales. The melting of the Arctic may also deprive the whales of a rich food source, which accumulates along the edge of the pack ice.

According to researchers from the Earthwatch Institute, while this population cannot continue increasing indefinitely without causing an imbalance that may threaten its very survival, the present lack of food goes beyond the natural cycle of the predator/prey ratio. It could be an early warning of the global warming of this Ocean, necessitating further study and urgent action. [BBC News, Fisheries and Oceans Canada]

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19 April 2007

Subsistence hunting for beluga whales in Northern Quebec 2007: a tense season

Inuit hunters in Nunavik, Northern Quebec, plan to defy quotas set by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) aimed at conserving the endangered beluga whale populations of Eastern Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay.

Despite the fact that the will to conserve beluga whale stocks for future generations is common to both protagonists, the situation is becoming increasingly tense. After 20 years of regulations and chronic exceeding of quotas, communication problems and an increasing concern for the survival of the Inuit culture associated to traditional hunting are adding to an already complex situation.

A misleading mix

DFO estimates the Western Hudson Bay beluga whale population at around 60 000; it does not appear to be threatened. The Eastern Hudson Bay population is estimated at 3 100 and, according to COSEWIC, is endangered. The Ungava Bay population is estimated at less than 200, is also endangered and is protected under the Species at Risk Act, as are the beluga whales of Eastern Hudson Bay. In 2001, DFO models predicted the extirpation of the Eastern Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay populations by 2010 or 2015 if hunting pressures were not eased. Since then, lower quotas and the closing of Eastern Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay to all hunting activity has checked the decline of these populations and supplied a glimmer of hope for their recovery.

These three populations are very distinct from a genetic point of view. In the summer they frequent the shores of the Hudson, James and Ungava bays. In the fall, all three populations migrate towards Hudson Strait where some of them spend the winter, only to return in the spring to their respective territories to give birth. It is during their passage through Hudson Strait that 20 to 30 percent of kills target animals from the endangered Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay populations. For the Inuit that observe the whales and hunt them along the shoreline, this seasonal influx of beluga whales leads them to believe that beluga whales are abundant, shedding doubt on the scientific methods used to count them.

Why are these populations at risk?

Nunavik beluga whale populations underwent a sharp decline due to commercial hunting that was terminated at the beginning of the XX Century. Only subsistence hunting has since been authorized and has been managed since the mid-1980s. Annual capture quotas are set for each village or community by taking into account the most recent estimates for each population. Seasonal restrictions and the closure of certain zones are also used.

These quotas have constantly been surpassed. From 1996 to 2000, 240 captures were authorized per year, yet between 267 and 302 animals were taken, depending on the year. In 2001, 395 beluga whales were taken, despite a quota of 370. Quotas have been more faithfully respected since 2002, although they have still been surpassed every year. The exceeding of quotas has led DFO officers to take legal action against unlawful hunters. Furthermore, the three-year management plan, in place from 2006 to 2008 also includes a measure whereby quotas surpassed one year will be cut back the following year by the number of animals that exceeded the quota.

What do the Inuit want?

The Inuit feel that their economic and cultural way of life is threatened; in these Arctic regions, beluga whales represent an essential staple for certain families. The president of the Anguvigaq hunters and trappers organization has asked DFO to lift quotas, put a hold on its management plan and drop charges against hunters. Hunters have expressed their determination to continue hunting even if, by doing so, they are breaking the law. This painful deadlock will require a consensus to ensure both the survival of beluga whales and of hunting traditions in Northern Quebec. [Nunatsiaq News, Fisheries and Oceans Canada]

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5 April 2007

A British study reveals the effects of seismic surveying on cetaceans

This study, aimed at understanding the effects of compressed air guns on cetaceans, has just appeared in the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management (C.J. Stone et M.L. Tasker-The effects of seismic airguns on cetaceans in UK waters). These guns are mainly used for oil and gas exploration of the ocean floor. They emit powerful detonations every 10 seconds, 24 hours per day, for weeks and sometimes months at a time. These detonations essentially produce low frequency sounds that invade the underwater environment, extending over great distances. The resulting noise pollution is cause for concern for bioacoustitians, such as Chris Clark, director of bioacoustic research programmes at Cornell University in the United States, who considers that, with the exception of military acoustics, seismic surveying is the worst form of noise pollution.

Because mysticete whales mainly use low frequency sounds, while small odontocetes (toothed whales such as dolphins and porpoises) tend to use high frequency sound, biologists are especially concerned about the former group of whales. Numerous studies conducted to investigate the risks to these animals have documented behavioural changes that could potentially affect the survival or reproductive success of cetaceans. The effects can be as serious as loss of auditory sensitivity, injury and even death.

The British study, based on four years of data, is intended to extend knowledge about the effects of seismic surveying on cetaceans, small odontocetes in particular. Results demonstrate that cetaceans were disturbed by seismic exploration and displayed divergent reactions depending on species. When the air guns were active, small odontocetes swam away from the zone; mysticetes and killer whales that were en route to the exploration boat changed direction and distanced themselves from it, without leaving the zone; pilot whales changed direction. Statistically, no significant effect was noted for sperm whales. Odontocetes swam faster while mysticetes increased their dive times.

The authors specify that this study was only concerned with the short-term effects of seismic surveying on cetaceans and that other, long-term studies conducted over greater areas should be carried out. If an animal does not react specifically at the moment of a detonation, this does not mean that it will not be affected over the long term, notably by the masking of its vocalizations or through the loss of auditory sensitivity. Furthermore, the biological importance of documented short-term changes is not known; they could have long-term repercussions on the ability of marine mammals to carry out essential activities such as feeding, reproduction, care of their young and migration, to name a few.

Finally, the authors emphasise the importance of adhering to the precautionary principle. This is in line with GREMM recommendations concerning oil and gas exploration in the St. Lawrence Gulf and Estuary. The effects documented in the British study suggest the possibility of similar effects on the threatened resident St. Lawrence beluga whales population. Offshore oil production is such a touchy enterprise that several countries have adopted bans or special laws, judging that the risks are far too heavy when weighed against the potential benefits (Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park, United States, Costa Rica, Denmark, Australia). [Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, Whales Online]

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22 March 2007

Japanese whalers forced to leave Southern Ocean

Special collaboration: Genevièvre Laprise

The Japanese whaling fleet leaves the Antarctic Ocean after a fire aboard its mother ship.

For the first time in 20 years, Japan had to shorten its whaling season. All Japanese whalers had left Antarctic waters by the end of February. The Nisshin Maru, the fleet's main vessel, managed to restart its engines that had been shut down since February 15. A major fire had broken out in the engine room, forcing the evacuation of the crew and costing one crew member his life.

During a press conference in Tokyo, Takahide Naruko, an official representative of Japan's Fisheries Agency, declared that, “…given the damage to equipment from the fire, continuing whaling would be difficult.” He further added that the reduced number of whales taken, 505 minke whales and 3 fin whales as opposed to objectives of 850 and 10 respectively, would not have a major effect on the price of whale meat.

The controversial Japanese scientific whaling programme, which is run by the Institute of Cetacean Research, has many opponents. The governmental organization recently published a letter denouncing the actions of certain environmental groups. This letter accuses groups like Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace of terrorism, stating that they are responsible for dangerous harassment of Japanese whaling ships. These accusations follow a declaration by Japan's Fisheries Agency that, “We don't think there was any direct connection. On the other hand, we can't say for certain that there was none.” New Zealand naval authorities, called in to intervene during the fire, have declared that it is unlikely that Sea Shepherd or Greenpeace are responsible for this incident. The anti-whaling groups, that were harassing the Japanese fleet a few days earlier, were not present in the area on the day the fire occurred.

Greenpeace sent a radio message to the Nisshin Maru to the effect that, “We acknowledge your grief at the loss of your crew member. But this must be the last time your government sends you to the Southern Ocean to hunt whales and threaten the Antarctic environment. For the sake of the environment, the whales and your crew – never again!” The Nisshin Maru is scheduled to return to Japan by the end of March. An investigation and inspection of the engine room will enable authorities to determine the true cause of the fire. [The Register]

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8 March 2007

The calls of blue whales are divulging their secrets

Two recently published studies by Scripps Institution of Oceanography reveal new details about blue whale calls. One of these studies reveals links between types of vocalizations on the one hand and behaviour and gender on the other. The other study demonstrates that dialects exist for every blue whale population in the world.

The first study used various techniques, such as acoustic tags, observations at sea and genetic analysis in an attempt to determine the significance of blue whale vocalizations. It turns out that only male blue whales produce “AB” calls, while “D” calls are produced by both genders, typically while feeding. The “AB” sounds are likely associated with reproduction.

The second study used recordings of blue whales from all over the world to create a new map that categorized blue whales into nine regions according to dialect. The authors believe these categories could reflect the different global blue whale populations better than old data based on hunting.

In the St. Lawrence, another study published by Catherine Berchok and her colleagues from Pennsylvania State University also hints at the existence of blue whale dialects. For this study, acoustic recordings that were carried out between 1998 and 2001 imply a sub-division in the North Atlantic blue whale population. While vocalization characteristics of St. Lawrence blue whales and those recorded elsewhere in the North Atlantic are similar, distinctive features were noted in the composition of “phrases”.

This fascinating data teach us a little more about these mysterious giants. It also represents a new way to imagine more efficient protection for this endangered species.[Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Catherine Berchok and her colleagues]

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1 March 2007

Cruise line must pay $880 000 for breaking speed limit in a National Park

Last January 29, Princess Cruise Lines pleaded guilty in an Alaska court to knowingly failing to operate its ship, the Dawn Princess, at a slow, safe speed while near two humpback whales in Glacier Bay National Park. The cruise line is now obliged to pay a fine of US$200 000 (CN$235 140) as well as US$550 000 (CN$646 635) in restitution to the National Park Foundation, which is dedicated to conservation efforts. This prosecution was the first of its kind in the United States.

On July 12, 2001, the Dawn Princess was navigating park waters at a speed in excess of what is considered to be a slow, safe speed supported by the anti-take provisions of the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Four days later a pregnant humpback whale was found dead near where the ship had passed. The whale had succumbed to major injuries that included a fractured skull, eye socket and cervical vertebrae. These injuries are consistent with a ship strike. Researchers had known the dead whale as “Snow” since 1975.

Humpback whales gather to feed in this Alaska Park during the summer months. Princess Cruise Lines' directors regret the circumstances that involved the Dawn Princess and stated that the company takes its role as good stewards of the environment very seriously. The cruise line, which has planned 84 trips to Glacier Bay National Park this year, has instituted procedures and speed restrictions for its vessels of 18.5 km/h (10 knots) for the area.

Ship strikes: a real threat

Despite the fact that ships tend to be noisy and cetaceans have good hearing, ship strikes are relatively frequent. For, even though cetaceans are quickly able to react to danger, at certain times they are less alert. Examples of this include sleeping or resting periods, which take place near the surface, as well as feeding, nursing or mating periods. When caught off guard by a ship, whales do not necessarily have time to react or move. This is especially true of slow-moving species. Depending on the angle and the force of the impact a ship strike can either injure or kill a cetacean. Propellers can gash and slice skin and blubber, and in some cases cut up the tail. Given the force necessary to break the bones of a large cetacean, it is unlikely that cranial, jawbone and vertebral fractures are unlikely to be caused by anything but a collision with a ship.

According to a study conducted by the Marine Mammal Commission on collisions between motorized vessels and great whales—baleen whales and sperm whales—in various regions of the world, fatal ship strikes date back to the end of the 1800s when ships began attaining speeds of 13 to 15 knots (24 to 28 km/h). At the time ship strikes were rare. They began increasing in number between 1950 and 1970 with the increase in the number of ships and speed. The authors of the study recorded collisions with 11 different whale species. It appears that most fatal or serious injuries are caused by ships that exceed 80 m in length travelling at speeds in excess of 14 knots (25 km/h). However, ships of every size and type can hit whales and inflict injuries. [National Park Service Morning Report, Associated Press]

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15 February 2007

Japan organizes a meeting to push for the lifting of the whaling ban

This week Japan invited the 72 members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to an impromptu meeting in Tokyo. Most countries opposed to commercial whaling—including the United States, Australia and Great Britain—boycotted the meeting; in total 34 countries declined the invitation. The main topic of discussion at the meeting was a strategic plan to ensure the lifting of the worldwide ban on commercial whaling. The results of this meeting, which was held from February 12 to 14, will be presented to all IWC members at the annual IWC meeting to be held next May.

This week's meeting calls for the “normalisation” of the IWC in accordance with the terms of the “St. Kitts and Nevis Declaration”, adopted by a slight majority at the last annual meeting in June 2006. This declaration stipulates that the IWC should return to its original mandate: the sustainable management of commercial whaling that ensures the protection the cultural heritage rights and the economic development of coastal communities. According to the organizers of this week's meeting, the debate around commercial whaling is dominated by emotions. For their part, countries and organizations that are opposed to whaling denounce Japanese propaganda and are worried about a poorly managed scientific hunt, which they describe as a smokescreen for the eventual resumption of commercial whaling.

Between an untenable status quo and the absence of a solution to the crisis, the IWC is spinning its wheels; without a clear prospect for the resumption of commercial whaling, a parallel international organization of exclusively pro-whaling countries could be created. For now, IWC management tools (moratorium, sanctuaries, etc.) have not been able to control whaling activities that have been taking place since 1986. For several years now, the IWC has been attempting, without success, to come up with new management strategies that all member countries can agree on. This would lead to the lifting of the ban and a resumption of commercial whaling. It remains to be seen if this hunt can be carried out in a sustainable manner in light of the whaling activities of centuries past that brought all great whale populations to the brink of extinction. [New York Times]

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25 January 2007

North Atlantic right whales fall victim to fishing gear

On Thursday, January 25, a right whale was freed of most of the fishing line that it had been dragging around in its mouth since at least the month of September. Meanwhile, biologists are proposing modifications to lobster fishing practices in the Gulf of Maine to reduce accidental entanglement.

Last September, researchers from the New England Aquarium spotted a young right whale in the Bay of Fundy, where this species generally spends the summer. It had fishing line caught in its mouth, knotted behind its blowholes and trailing about 12 metres behind it. The whale was not seen again until January 15, when it was spotted from the air on the right-whale calving grounds off the coast of Georgia. Biologists from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Center for Coastal Studies equipped the whale with a satellite-transmitting buoy in order to track it. The next day they returned to the area in an attempt to free the whale, but it dove and swam away from its would-be rescuers. Using satellite signals from the buoy, the researchers were once again able to locate the whale several days later in Onslow Bay, off North Carolina. The team then approached it, slowed it down and came in close to cut the line. Unfortunately, numerous attempts to remove the line near the mouth did not succeed. At the end of their intervention, the team recovered the satellite buoy and the whale dove deep, still trailing fishing line in its mouth. Researchers now hope that the remaining line will fall away on its own.

With a mere 350 individuals left, the North Atlantic right whale is one of the most threatened great whales of the planet. Despite international protection they still fall victim to human activities, either through ship strikes or accidental entanglement in fishing gear. A study published earlier this month proposes a shortened lobster fishing season and a reduction in the number of traps used in the Gulf of Maine. According to this study, these changes would not affect the profitability of this type of fishing. On the contrary, they would mean savings for fishermen and reduced risks of accidental entanglement. [ESPN, Current Biology]

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A bad year for North Atlantic right whales

On the eve of New Year's Eve, Saturday December 30, 2006, the carcass of a right whale was spotted drifting off the coast of Georgia. This was the sixth such observation of 2006, a disastrous year for this endangered species. The body of the young male, approximately two years old, had twenty large propeller cuts along the right side of its head and extending down its back. This is the mark of a ship strike. A necropsy confirmed that the lacerations did not occur after the death of the whale. Five of the deaths reported in 2006 were caused by human activity: four whales died from collisions with ships and one was the victim of fishing gear entanglement. The sixth carcass was not recoverable; cause of death could not be established.

This most recent victim was the offspring a whale known to New England Aquarium researchers as Columbine. Every individual of this species can be recognized by patterns formed by white callosities on their heads, which are like fingerprints that enable researchers to catalogue them.

The North Atlantic right whale population is estimated at approximately 350 individuals who feed during the summer months in northern coastal waters, such as the Bay of Fundy. These whales then migrate south along the East Coast of the United States. Thus, gestating females make their way to their calving grounds off Florida and Georgia. Researchers contend that this population cannot support such a high death toll linked to human activities; they estimate that the North Atlantic right whale could disappear within 100 to 200 years. However, conservation measures are being devised and implemented for the recovery of this species. Speed limits in areas frequented by right whales have been established in certain areas and the shipping lane in the Bay of Fundy was actually moved to accommodate feeding right whales. A similar project could see the light of day in the Boston area.

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