The effects of vessel speed and size on the lethality of strikes of large whales in U.S. waters
Vessel strikes are a substantial source of mortality for large whales worldwide and may pose conservation threats for small populations. Model-based estimates of mortality rates, which inform management strategies to reduce vessel strike mortality, typically assume a reduced likelihood that a whale-...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1467387/full |
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| author | Lance P. Garrison Niki E. Lisi Meghan Gahm Eric M. Patterson Hannah Blondin Hannah Blondin Caroline P. Good |
| author_facet | Lance P. Garrison Niki E. Lisi Meghan Gahm Eric M. Patterson Hannah Blondin Hannah Blondin Caroline P. Good |
| author_sort | Lance P. Garrison |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vessel strikes are a substantial source of mortality for large whales worldwide and may pose conservation threats for small populations. Model-based estimates of mortality rates, which inform management strategies to reduce vessel strike mortality, typically assume a reduced likelihood that a whale-vessel collision will be lethal to the whale at slower vessel speeds. In this study, we reviewed and updated available data on observed whale-vessel interactions in U.S. waters and developed a new model characterizing the probability that an interaction will be lethal to the whale as a function of vessel speed, length (as a proxy for mass), and whale taxon. We found a significant effect of vessel size class on the probability of lethality. In addition, decreasing vessel speeds reduced the likelihood of a lethal outcome for all vessel size classes, but this effect was strongest for vessels less than 108m in length. The probability that a strike by a very large ocean-going vessel will be lethal exceeded 0.80 at all speeds above 5 knots. Whale taxon also affected both the likelihood of a lethal strike and the effect of vessel speed. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) had significantly lower rates of lethal strikes compared to other large whales. This difference may be associated with data limitations, differing behavioral responses between species, varying vessel types between regions or differences in body composition and blubber thickness. The model is consistent with biophysical models that demonstrate a high rate of strike lethality for large vessels with high masses. Vessel speed restrictions are one of the primary approaches to reduce the risk of vessel strikes to whales in the face of continued industrialization of the oceans, and the model presented here will help better inform management efforts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4a33bfa2ab96487c85b26db08ef76ee3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-4a33bfa2ab96487c85b26db08ef76ee32025-02-05T05:17:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-02-011110.3389/fmars.2024.14673871467387The effects of vessel speed and size on the lethality of strikes of large whales in U.S. watersLance P. Garrison0Niki E. Lisi1Meghan Gahm2Eric M. Patterson3Hannah Blondin4Hannah Blondin5Caroline P. Good6Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Miami, FL, United StatesMarine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, MD, United StatesMarine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, MD, United StatesMarine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, MD, United StatesMarine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Miami, FL, United StatesCooperative Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United StatesMarine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, MD, United StatesVessel strikes are a substantial source of mortality for large whales worldwide and may pose conservation threats for small populations. Model-based estimates of mortality rates, which inform management strategies to reduce vessel strike mortality, typically assume a reduced likelihood that a whale-vessel collision will be lethal to the whale at slower vessel speeds. In this study, we reviewed and updated available data on observed whale-vessel interactions in U.S. waters and developed a new model characterizing the probability that an interaction will be lethal to the whale as a function of vessel speed, length (as a proxy for mass), and whale taxon. We found a significant effect of vessel size class on the probability of lethality. In addition, decreasing vessel speeds reduced the likelihood of a lethal outcome for all vessel size classes, but this effect was strongest for vessels less than 108m in length. The probability that a strike by a very large ocean-going vessel will be lethal exceeded 0.80 at all speeds above 5 knots. Whale taxon also affected both the likelihood of a lethal strike and the effect of vessel speed. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) had significantly lower rates of lethal strikes compared to other large whales. This difference may be associated with data limitations, differing behavioral responses between species, varying vessel types between regions or differences in body composition and blubber thickness. The model is consistent with biophysical models that demonstrate a high rate of strike lethality for large vessels with high masses. Vessel speed restrictions are one of the primary approaches to reduce the risk of vessel strikes to whales in the face of continued industrialization of the oceans, and the model presented here will help better inform management efforts.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1467387/fullmysticete whalesvessel strikeconservationendangered specieslogistic regression |
| spellingShingle | Lance P. Garrison Niki E. Lisi Meghan Gahm Eric M. Patterson Hannah Blondin Hannah Blondin Caroline P. Good The effects of vessel speed and size on the lethality of strikes of large whales in U.S. waters Frontiers in Marine Science mysticete whales vessel strike conservation endangered species logistic regression |
| title | The effects of vessel speed and size on the lethality of strikes of large whales in U.S. waters |
| title_full | The effects of vessel speed and size on the lethality of strikes of large whales in U.S. waters |
| title_fullStr | The effects of vessel speed and size on the lethality of strikes of large whales in U.S. waters |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of vessel speed and size on the lethality of strikes of large whales in U.S. waters |
| title_short | The effects of vessel speed and size on the lethality of strikes of large whales in U.S. waters |
| title_sort | effects of vessel speed and size on the lethality of strikes of large whales in u s waters |
| topic | mysticete whales vessel strike conservation endangered species logistic regression |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1467387/full |
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