scholarly journals Dangerous dining: surface foraging of North Atlantic right whales increases risk of vessel collisions

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan E. Parks ◽  
Joseph D. Warren ◽  
Karen Stamieszkin ◽  
Charles A. Mayo ◽  
David Wiley
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Foraging Ecology ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Cape Cod ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Suction Cup ◽  
Right Whales ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whales

North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered and, despite international protection from whaling, significant numbers die from collisions with ships. Large groups of right whales migrate to the coastal waters of New England during the late winter and early spring to feed in an area with large numbers of vessels. North Atlantic right whales have the largest per capita record of vessel strikes of any large whale population in the world. Right whale feeding behaviour in Cape Cod Bay (CCB) probably contributes to risk of collisions with ships. In this study, feeding right whales tagged with archival suction cup tags spent the majority of their time just below the water's surface where they cannot be seen but are shallow enough to be vulnerable to ship strike. Habitat surveys show that large patches of right whale prey are common in the upper 5 m of the water column in CCB during spring. These results indicate that the typical spring-time foraging ecology of right whales may contribute to their high level of mortality from vessel collisions. The results of this study suggest that remote acoustic detection of prey aggregations may be a useful supplement to the management and conservation of right whales.

scholarly journals What Hope for North Atlantic Right Whales?

Oryx ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-262
Author(s):  
Randall Reeves
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Oil Refinery ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whale ◽  
International Convention ◽  
Atlantic Population ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
The North ◽  
Right Whales ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whales ◽  
The North Atlantic

In the early 1800s the once abundant North Atlantic right whale was believed to be extinct. But by mid-century the species had been ‘rediscovered’, and hunting was resumed until 1918, when the whales were again in trouble. In 1935 all right whales became fully protected by an international convention, and in the 1950s the North Atlantic population was once again ‘rediscovered’. Today, after nearly 50 years of protection and slow recovery, the author assesses the present status of the North Atlantic population. Surveys showed disappointing results until in 1980 a survey of the lower Bay of Fundy (prompted by the threat of an oil refinery being built there) revealed surprisingly high numbers. Another survey in 1981, in which the author also took part, has shown the Grand Manan Island region to be a summer and autumn assembly site for at least several dozen of these endangered whales, including a number of cows and calves. This may be a key area for the North Atlantic right whale's survival.

Comparison of genetic variability of North and South Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena), using DNA fingerprinting

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (7) ◽  
pp. 1073-1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine M. Schaeff ◽  
Scott D. Kraus ◽  
Moira W. Brown ◽  
Judy S. Perkins ◽  
Roger Payne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variability ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Population Data ◽  
South Atlantic ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whale ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
The North ◽  
Sharing Values ◽  
Right Whales ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whales

The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is the most endangered large whale in the world and shows few signs of recovery despite over 60 years of protection. In contrast, the South Atlantic right whale (E. australis), a closely related species, appears to be recovering successfully. Using DNA extracted from skin biopsy samples and two hypervariable minisatellite probes, we compared the levels of genetic diversity within the two populations. Our results revealed that unrelated North Atlantic (NA) right whales exhibit significantly less genetic variation than unrelated South Atlantic (SA) right whales (Jeffreys 33.15 (J33.15) probe: SNA-U-observed = 0.56 versus SSA-U-observed = 0.37, p < 0.01; M13 probe: SNA-U-observed = 0.74 versus SSA-U-observed = 0.46, p < 0.01). The level of band sharing among unrelated North Atlantic right whales was greater than that predicted for second-degree-related South Atlantic right whales (J33.15: SNA-U-observed = 56 versus SSA-2°-expected = 0.53, p < 0.05; M13: SNA-U-observed = 0.74 versus SSA-2°-expected = 0.60, p < 0.01), indicating that the northern animals have lost a substantial amount of genetic variability. Observed band sharing among North Atlantic first-degree relatives was lower than expected, based on band sharing among unrelated animals (J33.15: SNA-1°-observed = 0.67 versus SNA-1°-expected = 0.78, p < 0.01; M13: SNA-1°-observed = 0.83 versus SNA-1°-expected = 0.87, p = 0.15). This suggests that the matings between closely related individuals that would have resulted in the higher band-sharing values were unsuccessful. These results, in conjunction with behavioral and population data which indicate that North Atlantic right whales may be suffering from reduced fertility, fecundity, and juvenile survivorship, support the hypothesis that inbreeding depression is influencing the recovery of this species.

scholarly journals Spatial Management to Reduce Entanglement Risk to North Atlantic Right Whales in Fishing Gear: A Case Study of U.S. Northeast Lobster Fishery 2002–2009

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn D. Bisack ◽  
Gisele M. Magnusson
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Decision Rules ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Fishing Effort ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Right Whales ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whales ◽  
Lobster Fishery

Despite the use of gear requirements and access restrictions to manage lobster fishery interactions with north Atlantic right whales since 1997, the population is likely below 370 animals. The Dynamic Area Management (DAM) program (2002–2009) used “real-time” right whale sightings data to provide temporary protection using closures or whale-modified-gear to reduce entanglement. Our ex-post evaluation uses a flexible framework to identify strengths and weaknesses of the program. Biological and economic implications of the program are evaluated using a relative risk of entanglement index (RREI) calculated with spatially and temporally explicit data on density of right whales and fishing effort. An illustrative closure optimization model demonstrates the trade-offs between the non-monetary benefits of risk reduction and the opportunity cost of closures under alternative decision rules (benefit-ranking and cost-effectiveness). Annual aerial sampling to detect DAM areas was low (&lt;3%), yet in some months’ the 17% of area covered by all northeast right whale management areas encompassed up to 70% of the region’s population. Despite their small spatial footprint, dynamic and static measures may have reduced total risk by 6.5% on average, and DAM zones may have created an indirect economic incentive for some fishers to adopt the whale-modified-gear. Similar RREI index values in some months with inverse levels of fishing effort and whale presence highlight the need to consider fishing and whales jointly to reduce risk. These temporal-spatial patterns are critical in policy instrument design. Further, optimization results illustrate how different decision rules can attain equivalent non-monetary benefits of risk reduction at different opportunity costs to industry; the implications of whale-modified-gear and compliance factors are explored. We recommend that DAMs be considered as part of a suite of policy instruments, and highlight how recent technological advances may support lower cost data collection and faster implementation given limited public sector budgets. This case study highlights the need for evaluation of past policy instruments with a lens beyond biological outcomes, and sets the stage for further empirical analysis to better understand harvester responses to management measures designed to protect right whales and the resulting private and public sector trade-offs.

scholarly journals Temporal variation in the vocal behaviour of southern right whales in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 181487 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Webster ◽  
S. M. Van Parijs ◽  
W. J. Rayment ◽  
S. M. Dawson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Vocal Behaviour ◽  
Analysis Process ◽  
Right Whales ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whales ◽  
Southern Right Whales ◽  
Contact Calls ◽  
Made In

Autonomous recorders are frequently used for examining vocal behaviour of animals, and are particularly effective in remote habitats. Southern right whales are known to have an extensive acoustic repertoire. A recorder was moored at the isolated sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands for a year to examine whether the acoustic behaviour of southern right whales differed seasonally and throughout the day at their main calving ground in New Zealand. Recordings were made in each month except June, and vocalizations were audible in all months with recordings except January. A total of 35 487 calls were detected, of which upcalls were the most common (11 623). Call rate peaked in August (288 ± 5.9 [s.e.] calls/hour) and July (194 ± 8.3). Vocal behaviour varied diurnally with highest call rates detected at dusk and night, consistent with the concept that upcalls function primarily as contact calls. Zero-inflated model results confirmed that seasonal variation was the most important factor for explaining differences in vocal behaviour. An automated detector designed to expedite the analysis process for North Atlantic right whales correctly identified 80% of upcalls, although false detections were frequent, particularly when call rates were low. This study is the first to attempt year-round monitoring of southern right whale presence in New Zealand.

scholarly journals Confirmation of right whales near a nineteenth-century whaling ground east of southern Greenland

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
David K. Mellinger ◽  
Sharon L. Nieukirk ◽  
Karolin Klinck ◽  
Holger Klinck ◽  
Robert P. Dziak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Eubalaena Glacialis ◽  
Acoustic Survey ◽  
Temporal Separation ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Right Whales ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whales ◽  
Passive Acoustic

North Atlantic right whales ( Eubalaena glacialis ) were found in an important nineteenth century whaling area east of southern Greenland, from which they were once thought to have been extirpated. In 2007–2008, a 1-year passive acoustic survey was conducted at five sites in and near the ‘Cape Farewell Ground’, the former whaling ground. Over 2000 right whale calls were recorded at these sites, primarily during July–November. Most calls were northwest of the historic ground, suggesting a broader range in this region than previously known. Geographical and temporal separation of calls confirms use of this area by multiple animals.

scholarly journals Overview of catch history, historic abundance and distribution of right whales in the western North Atlantic and in Cintra Bay, West Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 187-192
Author(s):  
Randall R. Reeves
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Long Island ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
The North ◽  
Right Whales ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whales ◽  
History Of ◽  
Stock Depletion ◽  
Eastern North Atlantic

The catch history of the North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) in the western North Atlantic has been studied in a series ofprojects. Data from European archives on early Basque whaling, centred in the Strait of Belle Isle, showed that there were at least a fewthousand right whales in the northern part of the range in the sixteenth century. Data from shore whaling in the eastern United Statessupplemented by British customs data indicated that there were still more than a thousand right whales in the southern part of the range(i.e. south from Nova Scotia) in the late seventeenth century. Right whales were depleted throughout the western North Atlantic by themiddle of the eighteenth century, but small shore whaling enterprises persisted in some areas and pelagic whalers continued to kill rightwhales opportunistically. An increase in alongshore whaling occurred at Long Island (New York) beginning in the 1850s and in North andSouth Carolina, Georgia and northern Florida in the 1870s-1880s. By the start of the twentieth century only a few crews of shore whalersremained active in Long Island and North Carolina, and their whaling efforts were desultory. All evidence points to stock depletion as theprimary reason for the demise of organised whaling for right whales in eastern North America. Recent sightings indicate that some rightwhales travel from the Bay of Fundy and Scotian Shelf far to the north and east, at least occasionally reaching the historic Cape FarewellGround. Areas known to have been used regularly by right whales in the past (e.g. Gulf of St Lawrence, Delaware Bay) are now visitedseasonally by only a few individuals. Recent surveys of Cintra Bay, a historic right whale wintering ground in the eastern North Atlantic,provided no evidence of continued use by right whales.

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