Policy enabling North Atlantic right whale reproductive health could save the species
Abstract North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) risk extinction unless conservation measures not only reduce mortality but also enhance reproduction. Vessel collisions injure and kill by spinning propeller cuts or being hit with a blunt structure resulting in bone and soft tissue damage....
Published in: | ICES Journal of Marine Science |
---|---|
Main Author: | |
Other Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Oxford University Press (OUP)
2023
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsac239 https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article-pdf/80/2/237/49520547/fsac239.pdf |
id |
croxfordunivpr:10.1093/icesjms/fsac239 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
croxfordunivpr:10.1093/icesjms/fsac239 2024-01-21T10:05:57+01:00 Policy enabling North Atlantic right whale reproductive health could save the species Moore, Michael J Gilles, Anita Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution SeaWorld Conservation Fund 2023 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsac239 https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article-pdf/80/2/237/49520547/fsac239.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ICES Journal of Marine Science volume 80, issue 2, page 237-242 ISSN 1054-3139 1095-9289 Ecology Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography journal-article 2023 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsac239 2023-12-22T09:33:42Z Abstract North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) risk extinction unless conservation measures not only reduce mortality but also enhance reproduction. Vessel collisions injure and kill by spinning propeller cuts or being hit with a blunt structure resulting in bone and soft tissue damage. Entanglement trauma includes sublethal injuries that can reduce their ability to reproduce, while lethal events include drowning, deep constricting wounds, and emaciation leading to death over months or years. Current regulations attempt to reduce mortality from vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglement off the eastern shores of the United States and Canada. However, sub-lethal stressors, especially entanglement, have exacerbated impacts from climate-driven food supply changes, resulting in a serious reduction in growth of individuals and calving rates. If consumers demand that their ship-borne goods and bottom-caught seafood be procured without serious welfare and health concerns for the whales, recovery is possible. We need the will to widely employ the tools of vessel speed restrictions and acoustic retrieval of bottom traps and nets without a persistent vertical line in the water column to reduce sub-lethal as well as lethal trauma. Thus, consumers should pressure legislators, endangered species managers, and suppliers for far broader protections than currently exist. Article in Journal/Newspaper Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic North Atlantic right whale Oxford University Press (via Crossref) Canada ICES Journal of Marine Science |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Oxford University Press (via Crossref) |
op_collection_id |
croxfordunivpr |
language |
English |
topic |
Ecology Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography |
spellingShingle |
Ecology Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography Moore, Michael J Policy enabling North Atlantic right whale reproductive health could save the species |
topic_facet |
Ecology Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography |
description |
Abstract North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) risk extinction unless conservation measures not only reduce mortality but also enhance reproduction. Vessel collisions injure and kill by spinning propeller cuts or being hit with a blunt structure resulting in bone and soft tissue damage. Entanglement trauma includes sublethal injuries that can reduce their ability to reproduce, while lethal events include drowning, deep constricting wounds, and emaciation leading to death over months or years. Current regulations attempt to reduce mortality from vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglement off the eastern shores of the United States and Canada. However, sub-lethal stressors, especially entanglement, have exacerbated impacts from climate-driven food supply changes, resulting in a serious reduction in growth of individuals and calving rates. If consumers demand that their ship-borne goods and bottom-caught seafood be procured without serious welfare and health concerns for the whales, recovery is possible. We need the will to widely employ the tools of vessel speed restrictions and acoustic retrieval of bottom traps and nets without a persistent vertical line in the water column to reduce sub-lethal as well as lethal trauma. Thus, consumers should pressure legislators, endangered species managers, and suppliers for far broader protections than currently exist. |
author2 |
Gilles, Anita Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution SeaWorld Conservation Fund |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Moore, Michael J |
author_facet |
Moore, Michael J |
author_sort |
Moore, Michael J |
title |
Policy enabling North Atlantic right whale reproductive health could save the species |
title_short |
Policy enabling North Atlantic right whale reproductive health could save the species |
title_full |
Policy enabling North Atlantic right whale reproductive health could save the species |
title_fullStr |
Policy enabling North Atlantic right whale reproductive health could save the species |
title_full_unstemmed |
Policy enabling North Atlantic right whale reproductive health could save the species |
title_sort |
policy enabling north atlantic right whale reproductive health could save the species |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsac239 https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article-pdf/80/2/237/49520547/fsac239.pdf |
geographic |
Canada |
geographic_facet |
Canada |
genre |
Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic North Atlantic right whale |
genre_facet |
Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic North Atlantic right whale |
op_source |
ICES Journal of Marine Science volume 80, issue 2, page 237-242 ISSN 1054-3139 1095-9289 |
op_rights |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsac239 |
container_title |
ICES Journal of Marine Science |
_version_ |
1788696402065358848 |