[CINC] Shipping lanes to be adjusted to protect endangered whales along California coast

[Shauna Bingham - NOAA Federal]

(Apologies for Cross Posting)


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 27, 2012


Shipping lanes to be adjusted to protect endangered whales along California
coast

Busy shipping lanes off the California coast, including routes that cross
three national marine sanctuaries, will be adjusted to protect endangered
whales from ship strikes.

Last month, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which governs
shipping worldwide, announced it adopted three proposals deemed necessary
to improve navigational safety and to reduce ship strikes on the approach
to San Francisco Bay, the Santa Barbara Channel and the Ports of Los
Angeles and Long Beach. Vessels in these areas also travel through NOAA’s
Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones and Channel Islands national marine
sanctuaries where blue, humpback and fin whales feed and congregate.

“This is a win-win situation, backed by NOAA research, that allows for
enhanced protection of endangered whales and natural resources while at the
same time increasing maritime safety,” said William J. Douros, west coast
regional director of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. “We are
pleased with the shipping industry and the IMO’s decision to support the
proposed amendments.”

“The collaboration between NOAA and the Coast Guard in reviewing and
modifying these vessel traffic separation schemes demonstrates the strong
working relationship between our two agencies,” said Rear Admiral Karl
Schultz, Eleventh Coast Guard district commander. “The modifications to the
traffic lanes balance the safe and efficient flow of commerce within and
between our nation's ports, with NOAA's goal of reducing whale strikes from
vessels."

Slow-moving whales are highly vulnerable to ship strikes, since many of
their feeding and migration areas overlap with shipping lanes. In 2007,
four whales (all blue whales) were killed by confirmed or likely ship
strikes in and around the Santa Barbara Channel. In 2010, five whales (two
blue, one humpback, and two fin whales) were killed by confirmed or likely
ship strikes in the San Francisco area and elsewhere along the
north-central California coast.

Extending the three lanes in the approach to San Francisco Bay is expected
to reduce interactions between ships and whales within Cordell Bank and
Gulf of the Farallones national marine sanctuaries. According to the IMO
decision, the lane extensions will improve maritime safety in the area
by keeping vessels on a dedicated route through prime fishing grounds,
which will reduce interaction between fishing vessels and commercial ships.



The proposed vessel lane changes in the Santa Barbara Channel and Channel
Islands National Marine Sanctuary narrow the overall width of the existing
lanes and shift the southbound lane one nautical mile north. This change
will move vessels away from an area used by feeding blue and humpback
whales.

The vessel lane changes are anticipated to take effect in 2013. Blue,
humpback and fin whales are protected by the Endangered Species Act, Marine
Mammal Protection Act and National Marine Sanctuaries Act.

In 2007, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries worked to shift
shipping lanes in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, off the coast
of Massachusetts. This modification now protects endangered whales in the
sanctuary and has reduced the risk of ships striking whales by 81 percent.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's
environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to
conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Facebook,
Twitter and our other social media channels at
http://www.noaa.gov/socialmedia/.

On the Web:
Sanctuary Ship Strike information:
http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/protect/shipstrike/welcome.html
Shift in Stellwagen Bank shipping lanes:
http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/top40/14_shipping_lanes.html

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-- 
Shauna Bingham
NOAA's Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
113 Harbor Way, Suite 150
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
805-884-1460
805-568-1582 (fax)
http://channelislands.noaa.gov/
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