Marine Life & Conservation
Blue Whale Numbers Bounce Back To Near Historic Numbers
Researchers believe that California blue whales have recovered in numbers and the population has returned to sustainable levels.
Scientists say this is the only population of blue whales to have rebounded from the ravages of whaling.
The research team estimate that there are now 2,200 of these giant creatures on the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean.
But concerns remain about their vulnerability to being struck by ships.
At up to 33m in length and weighing in at up to 190 tonnes, blue whales are the largest animals on the planet.
The California variety is often seen feeding close to the coast of the state, but they are found all the way from the Gulf of Alaska down to Costa Rica.
Writing in the journal Marine Mammal Science, researchers from the University of Washington say the California blue whales are now at 97% of their historical levels.
Working out that this species is now back at its traditional numbers required some dogged scientific sleuthing.
Whaling nations concentrated their hunting efforts on the colder waters of the Antarctic and until the practice was banned in 1966 some 346,000 of the animals were killed by harpoon.
The numbers of blue whales caught in the Pacific was much lower, approximately 3,400 between 1905 and 1971.
Much of this hunting was carried out by Russian fleets.
However most of the data on the catches was kept secret under the Soviet regime. Scientists have only recently been able to get access to this information in the archives.
However the location and size of the catches didn’t give any clues to the types of blue whales that had been caught. There are two distinct populations, the California group and others that live near Japan and Russia.
To figure out which whales were which, the scientists turned to song.
“We were trying to separate the catches into east and west, but we didn’t know the boundary between the two,” said Dr Trevor Branch from the University of Washington.
By being able to accurately work out the numbers lost to whaling, the research team was able to calculate a historic population.
Now back at 97% of their past numbers, the team believes that a rise in population has slowed down as these whales have reached the capacity of what the ocean system can support.
One concern for the scientists at present are ship strikes.
Most of these happen off the coast of California, and so worried are the authorities that they are now paying merchant shipping to slow down.
“Our perspective is that we’d rather there were no ship strikes at all, and they are over the legal limit,” said Dr Branch.
“They have to do something to stop it, but 11 per year is so much lower than historic catches.”
This new data suggests that there could be an 11-fold increase in ships before there is a 50% chance that the population will drop below what is considered “depleted” by regulators.
“My impression is that they are fairly robust,” said Cole Monnahan, also from the University of Washington and the lead author on the paper.
“If you can whale them pretty extensively for 50-70 years and they are able to recover I think that says a lot about moving forward.
“In terms of things like climate change, it is hard to predict but I don’t think we would expect a precipitous drop off.”
While applauding the success of the conservation efforts in the California region, the scientists are well aware that not all whale populations have managed to rebound. In Antarctica, blue whales are at approximately 1% of their historic numbers.
“California blue whales are recovering because we took actions to stop catches and start monitoring,” said Cole Monnahan. ”If we hadn’t, the population might have been pushed to near extinction – an unfortunate fate suffered by other blue whale populations.”
Source: www.bbc.co.uk/news
Marine Life & Conservation
Experience the Greatest Shoal on Earth followed by few nights with Sharks next month at some really great rates with Seas4Life (Watch Video)
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In case this natural wonder wasn’t exciting enough – majestic humpback whales just happen to start their annual migration back up north adding to this phenomenal experience.
Its a must for the adventurous soul.. Lots of love, laughter, and smiles.
This is a feeding event of unmatched proportions. Thousands of common dolphin charge after the shoals, separating them into bait balls, with their ‘dolphin bubble technique’, bring them to the surface. Watched from the air by the cape gannets, who then launch a massive aerial assault on the sardines. They are also easy pickings for shivers of bronze whaler, dusky and black tip sharks, seals and lastly the huge mouths of Brydes (Brooders) whale that can consume an entire bait ball in one single lunge!
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As National Safe Boating Week approaches, Save the Manatee® Club is urging boaters, and anyone that enjoys Florida’s waterways, to respect and protect the defenseless manatees that inhabit our shared waterways. From May 18 to 24, leading up to Memorial Day Weekend, the campaign aims to raise awareness about recreational boating safety and the importance of safeguarding imperiled manatees during the summer boating season. This week also emphasizes the importance of encouraging boaters to enroll in a boating safety course.
Manatees are semi-migratory marine mammals that are commonly found in shallow estuaries, bays, rivers, canals, and coastal areas throughout Florida and neighboring states. With some manatees venturing as far west as Texas and as far north as Massachusetts, collisions between these gentle giants and watercraft have become distressingly frequent. Boat propellers and high-speed collisions pose significant threats to manatees, often resulting in severe injuries or even death.
Save the Manatee Club is calling on all water enthusiasts to follow essential manatee safety tips to ensure the well-being of the imperiled manatee:
- Obey Speed Zone Signs: Familiarize yourself with and adhere to posted speed limits to prevent collisions with manatees.
- Reduce Glare with Polarized Sunglasses: Wear polarized sunglasses to enhance visibility and spot manatees below the water’s surface.
- Recognize Manatee Signs: Learn to identify signs of manatees in the area, such as swirls or flat spots on the water caused by their movements.
- Respect Manatee Sanctuaries: Keep a safe distance from posted manatee sanctuaries and avoid pursuing or harassing these marine mammals, as it is illegal and can disrupt their natural behaviors.
- Report Distressed Manatees: In Florida, promptly report distressed, injured, tagged, or orphaned manatees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922). Outside of Florida, report sightings to the appropriate state agency or rescue organization. A list of agencies to contact is available at savethemanatee.org/report.
- Protect Seagrass Beds: Avoid boating over seagrass beds and shallow areas where manatees may be feeding. Stick to deep water channels while remaining vigilant, as manatees also utilize these channels during their travels.
- Dispose of Fishing Line Responsibly: Anglers should properly dispose of or recycle used fishing line to prevent entanglement hazards for manatees.
“Each year, National Safe Boating Week provides an excellent reminder for all of us to be aware that we share our waterways with vulnerable manatees,” emphasized Patrick Rose, Aquatic Biologist and Executive Director of Save the Manatee Club. “With the recent Unusual Mortality Event on Florida’s East Coast claiming an alarming number of manatees’ lives, it is more crucial than ever to prevent preventable deaths caused by watercraft collisions. By following manatee-safe boating guidelines, such as obeying speed zones and remaining vigilant for manatees, everyone on the water can contribute to the protection of these gentle giants.”
Save the Manatee Club offers a range of free materials to help safeguard manatees and raise awareness about manatee-safe boating practices. Shoreline property owners and park or marina managers can order aluminum dock signs to alert others about the presence of manatees in their areas. Boaters and paddlers can request packets containing a safety tips card, a waterproof boat banner, and a decal to display on their vessels, providing the number to report manatees in distress. To view and request these materials, visit savethemanatee.org/resources. Save the Manatee Club will also be hosting a live webinar for National Safe Boating Week on Tuesday, May 21st at 6pm EST. To register, visit savethemanatee.org/register.
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