Environmental Groups: Slow Down Ships to Avoid Killing and Injuring Whales
source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/06/whales-hit-by-ships-killed-catalina-marine-san...
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Environmental groups want ships to slow down to avoid killing and injuring whales
June 6, 2011 | 7:21 pm
A coalition of environmental groups is asking the federal government to require ships traveling though California’s marine sanctuaries to slow down to avoid fatal collisions with whales, a problem that they say has climbed to “unsustainable levels.”
Four groups filed petition Monday asking the Commerce Department to establish a 10-knot speed limit for large commercial vessels traveling through California’s four National Marine Sanctuaries in the Channel Islands, Monterey Bay, Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank.
Some freighters travel through those waters at more than twice that speed.
Nearly 50 whales have been hit by ships traveling off the California coastline in the last decade, according to experts, who believe the number is probably much higher because many of the accidents go unreported.
Shipping groups says a speed limit would greatly slow down cargo reaching port and more than double the time it takes the fastest vessels to travel through the sanctuaries.
The petition from the environmental groups is meant to prod the federal government to take steps to fight the growing problem. Some of the most heavily trafficked shipping lanes leading in and out of the ports in Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Francisco Bay run through the migratory paths and feeding areas of endangered whales.
In the 61-page document, the Environmental Defense Center, Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth and Pacific Environment say a speed limit would help protect endangered blue, humpback and fin whales from being run over by big ships.
"The overlap of these shipping lanes with California’s national marine sanctuaries puts sanctuary wildlife at great risk,” the petition reads. “While we cannot likely change the behavior of whales and other species so as to avoid ship strikes, we can and must regulate vessel practices to minimize this risk.”
Slower speeds would give whales more time to detect approaching ships and would lower the chances that injuries would become fatal if they are hit, the groups argue. A speed limit also would cut back on air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and underwater noise that can harm whales.
In a statement, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a branch of the Commerce Department that oversees National Marine Sanctuaries and endangered marine species, said it is also concerned with ship strikes to whales and would review the petition.
Shipping groups said a speed limit may not make it any safer for whales and has suggesting realigning shipping routes as an alternative.
“It's just premature to assume that slowing vessel speed is the solution to the ship-whale interaction issue,” said T.L. Garrett, vice president of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Assn., a trade group representing ocean carriers that dock at West Coast ports.
Where possible, vessels would probably navigate around the sanctuaries to avoid the restrictions, he added.
Four blue whales were struck and killed by vessels in 2007 near the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, prompting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to designate shipping lanes from Point Conception to Point Dume a “Whale Advisory Zone.”
Since then, the agency has conducted aerial surveys of the area and broadcast seasonal advisories to ship captains traveling through the channel suggesting they limit their speed to 10 knots – or roughly 11.5 mph -- to avoid hitting whales when they’re in the Santa Barbara Channel in high concentrations, usually from May to December.
Because the advisories are voluntary, environmental groups say, they have gone largely unheeded. Shipping groups said most vessels have not opted to lower their speeds.
--Tony Barboza
Photo: Pete Thomas For The Times
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Petition Seeks Mandatory Speed Limit for Large Ships in California Marine Sanctuaries
Posted on June 6, 2011
Legal Petition Filed to Limit Ship Speeds, Protect Whales in California’s Marine SanctuariesDeadly Collisions Between Ships and Whales Have Sharply Increased
SAN FRANCISCO— Conservation groups filed a legal petition today seeking a mandatory speed limit for large ships traveling through California’s marine sanctuaries. In recent years there has been a dramatic rise in whale deaths attributable to collisions with vessels. Ship strikes are now one of the leading threats to whales migrating through California’s waters. Today’s petition, from the Center for Biological Diversity, Environmental Defense Center, Pacific Environment and Friends of the Earth, seeks a 10-knots-per-hour limit for ships in marine sanctuaries.
“Our marine sanctuaries should be a safe harbor for marine life, but instead whales in California are at constant risk of being run over by big ships,” said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Mandatory speed limits for ships traveling through our marine sanctuaries will save whales and clean our air.”
California’s national marine sanctuaries have some of the nation’s richest marine wildlife habitat as well as some of the most heavily trafficked shipping lanes in the country. More than 9,300 square miles of sanctuary waters host many endangered species, including the largest animal on the planet: the blue whale.
“Reducing ship speed is a simple, reasonable way to protect whales and other aquatic life, as well as public health, from risks posed by large vessels that travel through California’s waters. As our petition details, ship speed limits aren’t just common sense, they’re also necessary to protect our valuable ocean resources,” said Marcie Keever, director of the Oceans and Vessels Project at Friends of the Earth.
With unprecedented numbers of blue, humpback and gray whales found off the California coast in recent years, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of whales killed by ship strikes. At least six whales were killed by collisions with vessels in 2010 and more than 50 large whales have died off the California coast in the past decade. In September 2007 five blue whales died as a result of ship strikes near the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
“Our goal is to avoid a repeat of the whale strikes that occurred in the Santa Barbara Channel in 2007,” said Linda Krop, chief counsel of the Environmental Defense Center. “Filing this petition close to World Oceans Day reminds us of the need to ensure proper protection for whales, such as endangered blue whales, that rely on our national marine sanctuaries for feeding and migration.”
Whales and other marine life are threatened by commercial ships traveling at high speeds, but they can be protected by setting reasonable ship-speed limits, according to today’s petition. Conservation groups are urging the federal government to set speed limits in the Channel Islands, Cordell Bank, Monterey Bay and Gulf of the Farallones national marine sanctuaries off the California coast.
“We are gravely concerned about the level of frequency of whale mortalities in our national marine sanctuary waters,” said Leah Zimmerman, interim executive director of Pacific Environment. “A 10-knot speed limit seems to be the best practical solution offering the most benefits — such as reducing climate change emissions, air pollution and ever-increasing ocean noise pollution.”
Reducing ship speeds will benefit wildlife and people. As shown on the East Coast where ship speed limits are already in place, reducing ship speed can decrease the risk and ultimate harm of a collision between a large ship and a whale. Lower ship speeds also reduce underwater noise pollution, which hurts whales. Slower ships reduce harm to human health because they emit less air pollution. In addition, reducing ship speeds decreases greenhouse gas emissions, thereby reducing the effects of climate change and ocean acidification.
Not only would lowering ship speeds protect whales and humans, but it would also save the shipping industry money by reducing fuel costs.
The groups filed their petition just before World Oceans Day on June 8, a UN-recognized day of observance to raise global awareness of the current challenges faced by the international community in managing the world’s oceans.
The petition can be read at: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/ocean_noise/pdfs/Petition_NMS_Ship_...
Contact: Miyoko Sakashita, Center for Biological Diversity, (415) 658-5308, miyoko@biologicaldiversity.org
Linda Krop, Environmental Defense Center, (805) 963-1622 x 106, lkrop@edcnet.org
Kelly Trout, Friends of the Earth, (202) 222-0722, ktrout@foe.org
Nicole Catalano, Pacific Environment, (415) 399-8850 x 316, ncatalano@pacificenvironment.org-
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http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2011/ship-strikes-06-06-2...
For Immediate Release, June 6, 2011
Contact: Miyoko Sakashita, Center for Biological Diversity, (415) 658-5308, miyoko@biologicaldiversity.org
Linda Krop, Environmental Defense Center, (805) 963-1622 x 106, lkrop@edcnet.org
Kelly Trout, Friends of the Earth, (202) 222-0722, ktrout@foe.org
Nicole Catalano, Pacific Environment, (415) 399-8850 x 316, ncatalano@pacificenvironment.orgLegal Petition Filed to Limit Ship Speeds, Protect Whales in California's Marine Sanctuaries
Deadly Collisions Between Ships and Whales Have Sharply Increased
SAN FRANCISCO— Conservation groups filed a legal petition today seeking a mandatory speed limit for large ships traveling through California’s marine sanctuaries. In recent years there has been a dramatic rise in whale deaths attributable to collisions with vessels. Ship strikes are now one of the leading threats to whales migrating through California’s waters. Today’s petition, from the Center for Biological Diversity, Environmental Defense Center, Pacific Environment and Friends of the Earth, seeks a 10-knots-per-hour limit for ships in marine sanctuaries.
“Our marine sanctuaries should be a safe harbor for marine life, but instead whales in California are at constant risk of being run over by big ships,” said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Mandatory speed limits for ships traveling through our marine sanctuaries will save whales and clean our air.”
California’s national marine sanctuaries have some of the nation’s richest marine wildlife habitat as well as some of the most heavily trafficked shipping lanes in the country. More than 9,300 square miles of sanctuary waters host many endangered species, including the largest animal on the planet: the blue whale.
“Reducing ship speed is a simple, reasonable way to protect whales and other aquatic life, as well as public health, from risks posed by large vessels that travel through California’s waters. As our petition details, ship speed limits aren’t just common sense, they’re also necessary to protect our valuable ocean resources,” said Marcie Keever, director of the Oceans and Vessels Project at Friends of the Earth.
With unprecedented numbers of blue, humpback and gray whales found off the California coast in recent years, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of whales killed by ship strikes. At least six whales were killed by collisions with vessels in 2010 and more than 50 large whales have died off the California coast in the past decade. In September 2007 five blue whales died as a result of ship strikes near the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
“Our goal is to avoid a repeat of the whale strikes that occurred in the Santa Barbara Channel in 2007,” said Linda Krop, chief counsel of the Environmental Defense Center. “Filing this petition close to World Oceans Day reminds us of the need to ensure proper protection for whales, such as endangered blue whales, that rely on our national marine sanctuaries for feeding and migration.”
Whales and other marine life are threatened by commercial ships traveling at high speeds, but they can be protected by setting reasonable ship-speed limits, according to today’s petition. Conservation groups are urging the federal government to set speed limits in the Channel Islands, Cordell Bank, Monterey Bay and Gulf of the Farallones national marine sanctuaries off the California coast.
“We are gravely concerned about the level of frequency of whale mortalities in our national marine sanctuary waters,” said Leah Zimmerman, interim executive director of Pacific Environment. “A 10-knot speed limit seems to be the best practical solution offering the most benefits — such as reducing climate change emissions, air pollution and ever-increasing ocean noise pollution.”
Reducing ship speeds will benefit wildlife and people. As shown on the East Coast where ship speed limits are already in place, reducing ship speed can decrease the risk and ultimate harm of a collision between a large ship and a whale. Lower ship speeds also reduce underwater noise pollution, which hurts whales. Slower ships reduce harm to human health because they emit less air pollution. In addition, reducing ship speeds decreases greenhouse gas emissions, thereby reducing the effects of climate change and ocean acidification.
Not only would lowering ship speeds protect whales and humans, but it would also save the shipping industry money by reducing fuel costs.
The groups filed their petition just before World Oceans Day on June 8, a UN-recognized day of observance to raise global awareness of the current challenges faced by the international community in managing the world’s oceans.
The petition can be read at: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/ocean_noise/pdfs/Petition_NMS_Ship_...
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The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 320,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
Friends of the Earth and our network of grassroots groups in 76 countries fight to create a more healthy, just world. Our current campaigns focus on clean energy and solutions to climate change, keeping toxic and risky technologies out of the food we eat and products we use, and protecting marine ecosystems and the people who live and work near them.
The Environmental Defense Center protects and enhances the environment through education, advocacy, and legal action and works primarily within Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties. Since 1977, EDC has empowered community based organizations to advance environmental protection of our coast and oceans, open space and wildlife, and human and environmental health. See www.EnvironmentalDefenseCenter.org
Pacific Environment is a non-profit organization based in San Francisco that protects the living environment of the Pacific Rim by promoting grassroots activism, strengthening communities, and reforming international policies. For nearly two decades, we have partnered with local communities around the Pacific Rim to protect and preserve the ecological treasures of this vital region. www.pacificenvironment.org
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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/06/state/n220221D63.DTL&tsp=1
San Francisco Chronicle | Gate
Calif. enviros want ships to slow to save whales
Monday, June 6, 2011
(06-06) 22:02 PDT Los Angeles, CA (AP) --
Environmentalists want ships traveling through California's marine sanctuaries to slow down to avoid deadly collisions with whales.
Four groups filed a petition Monday asking the federal government to establish a 10-knot speed limit for large commercial vessels traveling though the state's four National Marine Sanctuaries in the Channel Islands, Monterey Bay, Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank, The Los Angeles Times reported Monday.
The Environmental Defense Center, the Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth and Pacific Environment said a speed limit would help protect endangered blue, humpback and fin whales from being run over.
"The overlap of these shipping lanes with California's national marine sanctuaries puts sanctuary wildlife at great risk," they wrote in the petition. "While we cannot likely change the behavior of whales and other species so as to avoid ship strikes, we can and must regulate vessel practices to minimize this risk."
Shipping groups say a speed limit would greatly delay cargo from reaching port and more than double the time it takes the fastest vessels to travel through the sanctuaries.
They suggest that changing shipping routes to send vessels around the sanctuaries would be a better alternative.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees National Marine Sanctuaries, said it would review the petition.
NOAA designated shipping lanes near the near the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary as a "Whale Advisory Zone" after four blue whales were struck and killed by vessels in 2007.
Now the agency conducts aerial surveys of the Santa Barbara Channel during the whale migration from May to December and broadcasts seasonal advisories to limit travel speeds to 10 knots to avoid hitting whales.
Ship captains ignore the advisories because they are voluntary, environmentalists said.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/06/state/n220221D63.DTL#ixzz1OZ1oDT00
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