๐ธ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐๐๐, ๐กโ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐ โ๐๐๐ , ๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ด๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ค๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐ค๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐.
โท ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ
The study, based on over 435,000 whale sightings and 35 billion maritime journeys, identified high-risk collision zones, mainly along coastlines and in certain offshore areas. Blue whales, humpback whales, fin whales, and sperm whales share their habitat with 92% of global maritime routes.
Unfortunately, fewer than 7% of the hotspots at risk for any of the four species studied are covered by voluntary measures, and less than 1% by mandatory measures such as ship speed reductions.
โท ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ
Climate change further complicates the situation by altering whale migration routes and opening new maritime paths, particularly in the Arctic. However, 95% of critical areas lie within exclusive economic zones, giving national governments the authority to regulate maritime traffic.
โท ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
The study suggests that targeting management measures over just 2.6% of the oceanโs surface could protect the main high-risk zones. One of the key solutions is reducing ship speed in these critical areas, which proves to be particularly effective. Initiatives like IFAWโs Blue Speed program have already demonstrated the positive impact of this solution by reducing collisions, minimizing underwater noise disturbances, and contributing to decreased greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
โท ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐
To protect these ocean giants, international cooperation is crucial, including enhanced monitoring, safe marine corridors, and adjustments to maritime routes. LIFE – SeaDetect contributes to this effort through innovative projects like Greenov, SafeNav, Tethys Research Institute, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences – NEXVISION SAS, DIADรS MARINE, SIREHNA, Bureau Veritas Group, Quiet-Oceans, imec focusing on real-time whale detection and collision prevention to reduce risks and improve maritime safety.
Protecting whales and their habitats requires global action, combining effective regulations, awareness, and cooperation to ensure the survival of these majestic mammals amidst growing threats.