Large whales of the Bay of Biscay and whale strike risk orcaweb.org.uk UK registered charity no: 1141728 2 Large whales killed by ship strikes 2 Contents The ORCA and WSPA ship strike reduction initiative 3 The Bay of Biscay 4 Fin whale 5 Minke Whale 7 Sperm whale 9 Young John © image: Cover Reporting a whale strike to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) 11 Ship strike recording form 12 Further information and appendices 13 Appendix 1 Fin whale further information 13 Appendix 2 Minke whale further information 14 Appendix 3 Sperm whale further information 15 Large whales killed by ship strikes There have been several reports in the press of Shipping density in the Bay of Biscay is as high if not ships hitting and killing large whales; does this higher than in the Mediterranean, therefore it can happen in the Bay of Biscay? be inferred that there will be at least a comparable Unfortunately yes. One of the busiest shipping risk of ship strikes in these areas. This suggestion routes in the world occurs through the western is supported by further scientific research, which edge of Biscay; container vessels, tankers and bulk identified the Bay of Biscay and Southwest carriers all move goods from northern Europe Approaches as areas of high risk of fatal ship strike. to the Mediterranean, Asia and Africa. Couple this with high densities of large whales, the risks Do animals suffer after a strike? of whale strike is inevitably going to be high. Imagine you have a pet dog or cat (or perhaps you do) and it runs into the road. It’s struck by a car and How many whales are killed in Biscay every year? suffers horrific injuries. It does not die immediately. No one knows. Biscay is a very large expanse of deep In fact it takes many minutes before the animal dies. water and very few carcases are washed up on the Imagine how much suffering that animal endured. shore. We are reliant on ships reporting a strike or Like cats and dogs, whales are mammals imagine a 25 near miss. Many large ships are unaware that they have hit a whale and only discover this fact when they arrive in port with it draped over their bulbous bow. © WDC So, if we cannot quantify the problem, how do we know that there is one? There are well documented cases of whale strikes in other regions. A study of fin whales in the northwest Mediterranean showed that between 1972 and 2001, 46 out of 287 (16%) fin whale mortalities had injuries indicating that the fatality was most likely due to ship strike. The Pelagos Sanctuary (87,500 km2) and adjacent waters documented 82.2% of all fin whale mortalities were due to ship strikes. Density estimates of fin whales in the Pelagos Sanctuary in the Mediterranean Sea, where we know there is a problem of ship strike, are 0.0020 animals km2. Estimates for the Bay of Biscay are 0.0050 animals km2, which is approximately 2.5 times more than that from the Pelagos Sanctuary. fin whale, draped over the bulbous bow of a ship 3 meter fin whale being hit by a large vessel. Imagine understand more about the behaviour of these animals rapid blood loss; internal bleeding and muscle, bone to help avoid them once they have been spotted by and neural trauma. The death is not quick and the crew. The identification and distribution of these animals individual suffers considerably. Not for minutes, but are discussed on pages 5 – 10 of this document. perhaps for hours or days. The whale is unable to If a whale is seen in the distance in front of the ship feed properly. It cannot swim normally or breathe and you can track it from its blows, take a series of well. Over weeks and perhaps months the animal compass bearings. If the whale’s position does not slowly starves to death because it was hit by a vessel. change as you approach, it means you will hit it (unless its course and speed is identical to yours). If the bearing As a bridge officer, what whales should I be looking changes you will either pass ahead or astern of it. out for? Large whales are the ones most likely to be hit by Sometimes, a whale strike will be unavoidable, especially ships. In the Bay of Biscay, fin whales are the most on vessels that have a limited view directly in front likely to get stuck on the bulbous bow of a ship and of their bow and/or little manoeuvrability at cruising these are the animals most commonly recorded being speed. If a whale strike does occur, it is important to brought into port by a vessel. Juveniles are more often report this to the International Whaling Commission. recorded than adults, possibly because they may Reporting a strike will not bring any bad publicity to be less spatially aware. Sperm whales are less likely your company. Reports can remain confidential and to ride up onto the bulbous bow due to their body are used to help scientists identify high risk areas of shape. These animals maybe knocked underneath the a ship strike and allow them to help shipping industry keel and hit the propeller. Minke whales are also at to reduce risk. Ways of reporting a ship strike are risk of whale strike in the Bay of Biscay. It is useful to discussed on pages 11 and 12 of this document. The ORCA and WSPA ship strike reduction initiative Is anything being done to help reduce risk? staff, companies (CSR departments, managers In November 2011, WSPA and ORCA came together etc), unions and the chamber of shipping. to collaborate on a 6 month project focusing on • Produce training materials on where whale reducing ship strikes of large whales in the Bay of abundance is greatest so crews are more Biscay. With WSPA’s funding and understanding aware and perhaps are able to tweak of animal welfare issues and ORCA’s scientific planned routes to avoid high risk areas. knowledge of the Bay of Biscay, a great synergy was • Enable crews to simply and systematically created to develop a solutions based workshop in record evidence of collisions, close April 2012. Now WSPA is helping ORCA drive forward encounters and avoiding action. These data the outcomes of the workshop to help maritime will help inform and improve our ability organisations reduce ship strike risk in Biscay. to identify high risk areas in the future. In April 2012, ORCA and WSPA held an international ship strike workshop in collaboration with Can ships use technology to alert whales of Aberdeen University; British Chamber of Shipping; their vessels presence? Brittany Ferries; CMA CGM; IFAW; Maersk; Possibly, but it is not as simple as that. During MARINELife; MEER; P&O Ferries; Souffleurs the workshop it became clear that to reduce d’Ecume; St. Andrews University; Tethys the number of whales hit by ships on a global Institute; Seawatch Foundation and WDC. scale; we need to explore new technologies to This solutions driven workshop highlighted the help crews reduce ship strike risk. However, need for more information about ship strike in there are currently are no suitable technologies general and particularly in the Bay of Biscay. The commercially available and it takes time to workshop agreed to engage with captains, unions develop these. ORCA is investigating two potential and companies operating in the Bay of Biscay by:- options. If you would like to know more, please contact us at [email protected]. • Creating a communications strategy to engage with shipping masters and their navigation Large whales of the Bay of Biscay and whale strike risk Organisation Cetacea – Charity registration no 1141728 4 The Bay of Biscay Where is the Bay of Biscay? How many types of whales and dolphins are The Bay of Biscay (as shown in the below there in the Bay? map) is the water body that follows the A total of 18 species of cetaceans have been western coast line of France and northern recorded in the Bay of Biscay, this is almost ¼ of the coast lines of Spain and Portugal; creating total number found in the world (about 85 species). a large bite mark out of the continent. What are the most common whales and Why is the Bay of Biscay good for wildlife? dolphins in Biscay? There are lots of different environments in the Common dolphins are the most common species Bay of Biscay; from shallow waters and deep- and pods (a group of dolphins) of several hundred sided submarine canyons to the extensive abyssal are frequently seen. They can mass into super plain (the deep ocean floor) that is over 4,000 pods where thousands of animals may be present. meters deep where dense cold water carries For example, the ORCA Wildlife Officers saw over lots of nutrients. The diversity of different 1,500 individuals on one trip in May 2010. physical environments means that the Bay of Biscay supports habitats that are suitable for a There are an estimated 9,000 fin whales in the range of whale, dolphin and porpoise species. northeast Atlantic and many of these are found in Biscay, particularly in August and September. They The cold, dense waters at the bottom of the abyssal are found predominantly along the shelf edge, in plain are forced up the slope of the continental shelf the deeper waters and over the abyssal plain. Until and come into contact with sun light in the shallow 2004 the densities of animals were relatively high.