Vessel collision injuries on live humpback whales,Megaptera novaeangliae,in the southern Gulf of Maine |
| |
Authors: | Alex N Hill Caitlin Karniski Jooke Robbins Tom Pitchford Sean Todd Regina Asmutis‐Silvia |
| |
Institution: | 1. Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC‐NA), Plymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.A;2. Biology Department, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, U.S.A;3. Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, Massachusetts, U.S.A;4. Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.A;5. Allied Whale, Bar Harbor, Maine, U.S.A |
| |
Abstract: | North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Gulf of Maine overlap with both recreational and commercial vessel activity. Vessel strikes are one source of anthropogenic impact that has the potential to inhibit the recovery of this protected species. There are currently no regulations or guidelines specifically devised to reduce the likelihood of collisions for vessels transiting in the vicinity of humpback whales, except for vessels actively engaged in whale watching. To understand interactions between vessels and humpback whales better, we analyzed injuries on 624 individuals photographed in the southern Gulf of Maine from 2004 to 2013. Multiple reviewers evaluated 210,733 photos for five categories of injury consistent with a vessel strike. In total, 14.7% (n = 92) of individuals photographed showed injuries consistent with one or more vessel strikes. These results likely underestimate vessel collision rates and impacts because multiple events, events resulting in mortality, and those that involved only blunt force trauma could not be detected. Nevertheless, our results indicate that vessel strikes are underreported and that healing is dependent on the severity and location of the injury. We recommend that a management strategy be developed for all classes of vessels transiting in the vicinity of whales. |
| |
Keywords: | vessel strike humpback whale Gulf of Maine Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary marine conservation scar photo‐identification wound healing |
|
|