A recent research study has discovered that critically endangered North Atlantic right whales are engaging in nighttime surface feeding, which poses a heightened risk of vessel strikes. Published in the reputable journal PLOS One, the study detailed this behavior in North Atlantic right whales and suggested potential measures to prevent fatal collisions between the whales and ships.
Lead author of the study, Jay Kirkham, a PhD candidate at Dalhousie University in Halifax, collaborated with the U.S.-based non-profit Ocean Alliance to attach tracking devices to 23 right whales in the Shediac Valley, located in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. This valley serves as a gathering spot for a segment of the North Atlantic right whale population, estimated at around 384 individuals during the summer months.
Utilizing the data collected from the tags, including video footage and movement patterns, Kirkham observed the whales’ feeding behaviors both during the day and at night. The study highlighted that while right whales typically feed near the ocean floor in daylight hours, they ascend towards the water’s surface at night to pursue their primary food source, zooplankton.
Kirkham leveraged these observations to develop a machine learning algorithm capable of identifying nighttime feeding behaviors in right whales when visual identification was not possible. The findings indicated that the whales were feeding at a similar depth as large vessels during the night, heightening the risk of collisions.
Collisions with ships and entanglements in fishing gear are major threats to the survival of the North Atlantic right whale population. The study aims to provide valuable insights for the development of conservation strategies for these endangered marine mammals.
Current protection measures for the right whales are overseen by Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Fisheries and Oceans Canada emphasized its focus on preventing whale entanglements and enforcing seasonal fishing closures, highlighting the potential of the study to inform tailored management strategies for the protection of North Atlantic right whales.
Transport Canada implements speed restrictions and a vessel exclusion zone in the Shediac Valley during the summer to mitigate collision risks. However, Kirkham noted that the tagged whales spent a significant portion of their feeding time outside this protected zone, exposing them to potential ship traffic.
In response, Transport Canada stated that it operates a surveillance program specifically designed to safeguard right whales from collisions, utilizing visual and acoustic detection technologies. These tools enable the detection of whales irrespective of lighting conditions and help in implementing protective measures when whales are present.
The department further emphasized its commitment to utilizing the latest scientific research, monitoring data, and stakeholder feedback to enhance and inform conservation measures for the protection of North Atlantic right whales.
