The Last Call of the Ocean: Whales Move As the Water Warms

Unfortunately, the whaling industry gave the North Atlantic right whale its name because it was the “right whale” to hunt. It was easy to spear, and unlike other species, it floated after death. These characteristics led to the species’ near-extinction through hunting, and even now, 65 years after the North Atlantic right whale hunt was put to an end, it is still struggling to survive.

Commercial whalers drove right whales extinct in the Atlantic by the early 1890s. Whaling is no longer an issue, but human interactions still pose the biggest threat to this species. From high estimates of as high as 21,000 in the 1920s, their population has declined by around 26% during the last ten years. There are now just 356 North Atlantic right whales remaining in the world due to the population decline that has brought them to such dangerous levels.

The research, which was published in the journal Oceanography, looked at 1980s North Atlantic right whale monitoring data and discovered that the population in the Gulf of Maine declined about 2010. Changes in the Gulf Stream brought warm slope waters to the area, which reduced the region’s suitability as a feeding habitat for the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale population. Right whales had moved from the Gulf of Maine and the western Scotian Shelf to St. Lawrence by the middle of the decade, where they were eating in the late spring and summer months.

Whales Move As the Water Temperature Rises, Answering the Ocean’s Final Call

Why Does Warm Water Cause Trouble?

Copepods are an important source of food for whales, and the researchers found that the number of copepods in the Gulf of Maine decreased due to ocean warming. This less food led to a 32% drop in female births during the previous ten years.

Researchers have documented an exceptionally high number of observations of right whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence since 2015. Whales have greater access to food in colder climates, but they are also more at risk from boats and fishing gear. Twelve of the deceased suitable whale bodies that the US National Marine Fisheries Service retrieved in 2017 were found in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

In order to support whale conservation, the researchers are calling on government agencies in the US and Canada to “implement more dynamic management strategies,” which should include more thorough monitoring of ocean conditions and whale sightings.

Additional Dangers Described

The two biggest threats to North Atlantic right whales are entanglements in fishing gear and ship mishaps. The species is now much more vulnerable to new dangers like seismic airgun blasting, which is a technique for looking for oil and gas deep beneath the seafloor and creates one of the loudest man-made sounds in the water.

Ship Collision

Collisions with ships rank second in importance among the causes of death for right whales. Since right whales are slow-moving and do not have a dorsal fin, they are challenging to recognize. The right whale swims too slowly for ships to maneuver to avoid them at normal operating speeds. Ship strikes pose a serious risk to right whales, with potentially lethal consequences.

Fishing Equipment

Entanglement in the fixed fishing gear used to harvest lobster, shellfish, and bottom-dwelling species is one of the most frequent causes of right whale damage and mortality. An estimated 100 right whales are entangled in American and Canadian gear annually, with 83% of them trapped at least once. Their swimming, breeding, and feeding abilities are hampered by dragging lines attached to bulky fishing equipment. They run the risk of drowning as well.

FACT: It has been determined that ship strikes caused the deaths of three of the eight dead right whales that were found in Canada in June and July of 2019.

Suggestions and Potential Techniques to Aid in the Survival of Right Whales

• To reduce dangers, effectively implement fishing closures when right whales are present.
• Research, monitoring, and risk reduction necessitate long-term funding and capacity building.
• Where right whales are known to cluster, seasonal speed limits should be imposed; if they are found in other areas, temporary restrictions should also be put in place.

In What Way Can You Assist? Guidelines for NOAA Fisheries

If you see one, report it.

Reports of sightings of right whales should be sent to the US Coast Guard from anywhere using the Whale Alert app or channel 16. To report a sighting of a right whale, contact 877-942-5343 or (866) 755-6622.

Remain Apart

It is against the law to approve of or remain within 500 yards (1,500 feet) of a right whale, according to NOAA Fisheries. These limitations also apply to other watercraft, including boats, planes, jet skis, surfboards, and kayaks.

Report Any Endangered Marine Life

Reporting an animal that is sick, hurt, entangled, stranded, or dead allows trained rescuers and scientists to become aware of the issue and take appropriate action.

Participate and Learn

Participate in public forums and share your opinions with representatives from the many community-based environmental protection teams.

Whales Move As the Water Temperature Rises, Answering the Ocean’s Final Call

Interesting Right Whale Facts

• Right whales in the North Atlantic can grow up to be 52 feet (15.8 meters) long and weigh 63.5 metric tons.
• Each North Atlantic right whale has unique callosities, which are rough, white patches on the skull.
• Right whales in the Atlantic can live up to 70 years. Researchers use the ear wax to determine the deceased’s age after death.

In summary

With regard to safeguarding the North Atlantic right whale, WWF has accomplished noteworthy advancements. Collisions, however, still pose a major threat to the species’ conservation in the waters off the US and Canada. The governments of the US and Canada need to move swiftly to prevent a catastrophic fall. The Atlantic Ocean might see the first major whale extinction in millennia if nothing changes.

H/T : Ozzackk.com