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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/07/change-lane-whales-ahead-sri-lanka-urged-to-reroute-shipping-traffic>
"Scientists and conservation groups are calling for one of the world’s busiest
shipping lanes to be rerouted in an effort to protect the world’s largest
animal.
Since 2008, researchers have been painstakingly piecing together clues about a
little-known, endangered population of blue whales that live off the southern
tip of Sri Lanka. What they have discovered so far hints at one group of
cetaceans or even a sub-species. Rather than migrating vast distances like most
blue whales, the Sri Lankan population is thought to live in the region
year-round, grazing on tiny shrimps and communicating via distinctive
vocalisations.
What has also become clear is the immense threat they face. The whales’ habitat
overlaps with a major shipping artery that connects east Asia to the Suez
Canal, leaving them vulnerable to ship strikes and noise pollution.
On an average day the whales face off against a relentless barrage of about 200
ships, many of them container ships or oil tankers that stretch up to 300
metres in length.
“The problem for these whales is that they live in a giant obstacle course that
we have created,” said Asha de Vos, a marine biologist who launched the first
long-term study of the region’s whales in 2008.
It is a clash playing out in increasing intensity around the world. Between
1992 and 2013, the shipping traffic swelled 300%, as maritime transport became
a fixture in roughly 90% of world trade.
In Sri Lanka, the push is now on to tackle what De Vos describes as a “uniquely
resolvable issue”, after research suggested that a small shift in the shipping
lane could make a big difference to the whales."
Via Glyn Moody, who wrote "come on, #srilanka, do the right thing…"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
