Historical records demonstrate that the most numerous, per capita, ocean-goingvessel strikes recorded among large-whale species accrue to the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis). As vessel speed restrictions are being considered to reduce the likelihood and severity of vessel collisions with right whales, we present an analysis of the published historical records of vessels striking large whales. We examine the influence of vessel speed in contributing to either a lethal injury (defined as killed or severely injured) or a nonlethal injury (defined as minor or no apparent injury) to a large whale when struck. A logistic regression model fitted to the observations, and consistent with a bootstrap model, demonstrates that the greatest rate of change in the probability of a lethal injury (Plethal) to a large whale occurs between vessel speeds of 8.6 and 15 knots where Plethal increases from 0.21 to 0.79. The probability of a lethal injury drops below 0.5 at 11.8 knots. Above 15 knots, Plethal asymptotically approaches 1. The uncertainties in the logistic regression estimates are relatively large at relatively low speeds (e.g., at 8 knots the probability is 0.17 with a 95% CI of 0.03‐0.6). The results we provide can be used to assess the utility of vessel speed limits that are being considered to reduce the lethality of vessels striking the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale and other large whales that are frequent victims of vessel strikes.

/pdf/vessel-collisions-with-whales-the-probability-of-lethal-3ii3j9q74l.pdf

Vessel collisions with whales: The probability of lethal injury based on vessel speed

Dugongs and manatees, the only fully aquatic herbivorous mammals, live in the coastal waters, rivers and lakes of more than 80 subtropical and tropical countries. Symbols of fierce conservation battles, sirenian populations are threatened by multiple global problems. Providing comparative information on all four surviving species, this book synthesises the ecological and related knowledge pertinent to understanding the biology and conservation of the sirenia. It presents detailed scientific summaries, covering sirenian feeding biology; reproduction and population dynamics; behavioural ecology; habitat requirements and threats to their continued existence. Outlining the current conservation status of the sirenian taxa, this unique study will equip researchers and professionals with the scientific knowledge required to develop proactive, precautionary and achievable strategies to conserve dugongs and manatees.

/pdf/ecology-and-conservation-of-the-sirenia-dugongs-and-manatees-4hfrixeu4y.pdf

Ecology and conservation of the sirenia: dugongs and manatees

Collisions with vessels are a serious threat to a number of endangered large whale species, the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) in particular. In late 2008, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued mandatory time-area vessel speed restrictions along the U.S. eastern seaboard in an effort to mediate collision-related mortality of right whales. All vessels 65 feet and greater in length are restricted to speeds of 10 knots or less during seasonally implemented regulatory periods. We modeled mortality risk of North Atlantic right whale when the vessel restrictions were and were not in effect, including (1) estimation of the probability of lethal injury given a ship strike as a function of vessel speed, (2) estimation of the effect of transit speed on the instantaneous rate of ship strikes, and (3) a consideration of total risk reduction. Logistic regression and Bayesian probit analyses indicated a significant positive relationship between ship speed and the probability ...

https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1890/ES13-00004.1

Vessel speed restrictions reduce risk of collision-related mortality for North Atlantic right whales

Concern about the effects of maritime vessel collisions with marine animals is increasing worldwide. To date, most scientific publications on this topic have focused on the collisions between large vessels and large whales. However, our review found that at least 75 marine species are affected, including smaller whales, dolphins, porpoises, dugongs, manatees, whale sharks, sharks, seals, sea otters, sea turtles, penguins, and fish. Collision incidents with smaller species are scarce, likely as a result of reporting biases. Some of these biases can be addressed through the establishment of species-specific necropsy protocols to ensure reliable identification of collision related injury, particularly blunt force trauma. In addition, creating a ship strike database for smaller species can assist in identifying the species most frequently involved in collisions, identifying high-risk areas, and determining species-specific relationships between vessel speed and lethal injury. The International Whaling Commission database on collisions with large whales provides a good example of this type of database and its potential uses. Prioritising the establishment of a species-specific necropsy protocol and a database for smaller species as well as the identification of high-risk areas for species other than large whales, would be a valuable step towards the mitigation of collisions with smaller species.

/pdf/a-global-review-of-vessel-collisions-with-marine-animals-4q5sk3j7cg.pdf

A Global Review of Vessel Collisions With Marine Animals

Vessel collisions contribute to the anthropogenic mortality of several threatened marine species including turtles, manatees, dugongs and whales, but scant data exist to inform the design of optimal mitigation measures. We conducted a field experiment to evaluate behavioural responses of green turtles Chelonia mydas to a research vessel approaching at slow, moderate or fast speed (4, 11 and 19 km h -1 , respectively). Data were recorded for 1890 encounters with turtles sighted within 10 m of the research vessel's track. The proportion of turtles that fled to avoid the vessel decreased signif- icantly as vessel speed increased, and turtles that fled from moderate and fast approaches did so at significantly shorter distances from the vessel than turtles that fled from slow approaches. Our results imply that vessel operators cannot rely on turtles to actively avoid being struck by the vessel if it exceeds 4 km h -1 . As most vessels travel much faster than 4 km h -1 in open waters, we infer that mandatory speed restrictions will be necessary to reduce the cumulative risk of vessel strike to green turtles in key habitats subject to frequent vessel traffic.

/pdf/vessel-speed-increases-collision-risk-for-the-green-turtle-2nyqcz2nrz.pdf

Vessel speed increases collision risk for the green turtle Chelonia mydas

Impacts with the hulls and propellers of watercraft are the largest source of humanrelated injury and death for Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris). Since the late 1970s, when dedicated manatee salvage and necropsy efforts began, such deaths have ranged from a low of 15 in 1983 to a high of 95 in 2002 and accounted for about one-fifth to one-third of all natural and human-related Florida manatee deaths annually (Ackerman et al. 1995, Marine Mammal Commission 2004). Because vessel operators are unable to detect and avoid manatees reliably, resource managers have tried to reduce collisions by establishing boat speed zones in areas where manatees and watercraft-related manatee deaths are most common. Although slower speeds may reduce injuries by reducing the force of collision impacts, the principal objective of speed restrictions has been to allow manatees more time to detect and avoid oncoming boats. Efforts to establish speed zones began in earnest in 1989 when the Florida Governor and Cabinet directed state and county agencies to develop such zones throughout 13 key counties. By the early 2000s, speed zone networks had been adopted for each of those counties. Those networks include several types of speed zones—including channel-exempt (i.e., zones where slow speed requirements apply only outside of marked channels), channel-inclusive (i.e., zones where slow speed applies both within and outside marked channels), and shoreline speed zones (i.e., zones where reduced speed applies within specified distances from shore)—that can impose various speed limits (e.g., idle and slow in the most restricted areas, up to 25–30 mph [40–48 kmh] in some marked channels). The selection of zone types and speeds has depended on sitespecific assessments of manatee habitat, vessel traffic patterns, geographic conditions, and public comment. Despite these measures, little has been done to date to assess their biological ef­ fectiveness, and there has been no clear evidence of a decline in watercraft-related manatee deaths. The annual total number of water craft-related deaths has in­ creased substantially since the late 1980s, although the proportion of such deaths

Preliminary evidence that boat speed restrictions reduce deaths of florida manatees

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Preliminary evidence that boat speed restrictions reduce deaths of florida manatees