Understanding Whale Mortality
As marine mammals, whales face a myriad of threats that can lead to increased mortality rates.
This section explores the complex factors contributing to whale deaths and examines the efforts to understand and mitigate these losses.
Unusual Whale Mortalities and Conservation Status
An Unusual Mortality Event (UME) is a significant die-off of a marine mammal population that demands immediate response.
Humpback whales along the Atlantic coast have been experiencing elevated mortalities since 2016, with instances of whale stranding and deaths triggering conservation concerns.
Humpback whales, along with species like the North Atlantic right whale, are considered endangered and are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Unusual mortality events demand thorough investigation to identify causes of death and to devise strategies to protect these vulnerable whale populations.
Investigating Causes of Whale Deaths
Necropsies, the animal equivalent of autopsies, are conducted on dead whales to determine the cause of death.
These investigations can reveal evidence of disease, starvation, or trauma from ship strikes or fishing gear entanglements.
For example, many gray whales were found malnourished, suggesting that changes in the marine food web may be affecting their ability to feed.
Climate change is also a significant concern, as rising temperatures can disrupt the habitats and prey availability for baleen whales like the North Atlantic right whales.
By conducting these investigations, researchers can understand the complex interactions between whales and their environment, informing conservation efforts to protect endangered species within their natural habitats.
Human Impacts and Response Strategies
The growing concerns of whale mortalities have led to an increased focus on human impacts and the development of strategies to mitigate these negative effects.
Challenges in Whale Conservation
Whales face a multitude of threats linked to human activities such as vessel strikes and entanglements.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reported that ship strikes are a significant cause of death, often leading to blunt force trauma in these marine giants.
Additionally, entanglements in fishing gear can impede whales’ ability to feed, migrate, and reproduce, leading to debilitating injuries or death.
The expansion of offshore wind development presents new challenges and potential threats to whale populations.
Though the offshore wind industry promises clean energy, it brings increased marine traffic and underwater noise that can disrupt whale migration paths.
Concentrated efforts are being made along the U.S. East Coast to monitor and manage the impacts of the offshore wind energy boom, particularly in busy ship lanes like those near the Port of New York and New Jersey.
Efforts to Mitigate Whale Mortalities
In response to these challenges, coordinated efforts such as those by the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society and the Marine Mammal Stranding Network are in place to respond to incidents of whales washing up.
These organizations, often powered by dedicated volunteers, utilize tools such as drone photography to gather data and deploy rapid response teams in the event of strandings.
NOAA also plays a crucial role in modifying shipping vessel operations, identifying and altering shipping lanes, and implementing seasonal speed restrictions to minimize lethal vessel interactions.
Another focus is on the research and implementation of quieter ship technologies to reduce noise pollution.
This collaborative work, championed by individuals like Kim Damon-Randall of the Laguna San Ignacio Ecosystem Science Program, highlights the importance of science-led strategies in conserving marine mammals.