Ship collision risk threatens whales across the world’s oceans

• DOI: 10.1126/science.adp1950
• Publication Date: 2024-11-21T18:58:41Z
• Authors: Anna C. Nisi; Heather Welch; Stephanie Brodie; Callie Leiphardt; Rachel Rhodes; Elliott L. Hazen; Jessica V. Redfern; Trevor A. Branch; Andre S. Barreto; John Calambokidis; Tyler Clavelle; Lauren Dares; Asha de Vos; Shane Gero; Jennifer A. Jackson; Robert D. Kenney; David Kroodsma; Russell Leaper; Douglas J. McCauley; Sue E. Moore; Ekaterina Ovsyani...; Simone Panigada; Chloe V. Robinson; Tim White; Jono Wilson; Briana Abrahms
• Keywords: Whaling

After the near-complete cessation of commercial whaling, ship collisions have emerged as a primary threat to large whales, but knowledge collision risk is lacking across most world’s oceans. We compiled dataset 435,000 whale locations generate global distribution models for four globally ranging species. then combined >35 billion positions from 176,000 ships produce estimate whale-ship risk. Shipping occurs 92% ranges, and <7% hotspots contain management strategies reduce collisions. Full coverage could be achieved by expanding over only 2.6% ocean’s surface. These inferences support continued recovery whales against backdrop rapidly growing shipping industry.