When a whale died after being hit by a cruise ship, Pulling the body into the harbor of a small Alaskan port town, residents decided to build a memorial. And it’s getting national attention.
But Friday, June 19Royal Caribbean greetings of the seaThe cruise ship, carrying 4,900 passengers, was approaching port in Seward, Alaska. It came with a 61-foot dead fin whale draped over the bulbous bow.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) worked with local veterinary experts to perform a necropsy of the animal. Before her death, the animal was healthy, had plenty of fat and muscle, and was also pregnant.
“Preliminary autopsy findings revealed blunt force trauma to the jaw, spine and ribs consistent with a vessel strike. The official cause of death is pending histological and clinical testing of the samples collected, which may take several months to complete.” The NOAA Facebook post said.
fin whale It is a protected species listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. It is also protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is the second largest whale after the blue whale. population near alaska There are about 5,700 animals.
NOAA notes that the greatest threat to the species is ship strikes. To reduce the likelihood of these incidents, NOAA suggests four main action points: slowing vessel speed to less than 10 knots in whale habitats, maintaining a distance of at least 100 yards, stopping the boat immediately if you are within 100 yards, and keeping a close eye on marine mammals.
a search published in marine mammalogy Highlights the importance of boat speed. The study found that the probability of a large whale suffering a fatal injury increases from 20% at 8.6 knots to 80% at 15 knots. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the ship was traveling between 15 and 20 knots when it collided with the whale.
memorial
As a call to action, Seward residents are planning to hold a public memorial for the dead fin whale. On the morning of Friday, July 3, they would meet at a public parking lot and proceed to march around Seward. They are scheduling the event on the day the same cruise ship returns to the city.
one in Seward Facebook GroupResident Jamie Lyons, head captain for tour operator Alaska Wildland Adventures, spread the word about the event. “It’s about accountability and finding ways to make tourism more sustainable as our city continues to grow,” he said.
“There are many of us boaters, captains and people who spend our days on Resurrection Bay. We have noticed a significant increase in humpback and fin whales this season. As more and larger ships pass through our bay, we believe it is appropriate to ask a simple question:
“Can we slow down these ships as they travel through known whale habitat?”
The event is intended to be a catalyst for discussion and change to better protect Alaska’s marine wildlife.
Reactions to Lyons’ call varied. Some people supported the demonstration and expressed concern for wildlife, while others pointed out that human activity on roads and railroads often results in the deaths of animals, and that the effort is futile.
“To see this majestic pregnant fin whale being carried dead over the bow of a mega-cruise ship is crushing to me and our small town,” Seward resident and water taxi captain Jamie Lyons said in a press release. Center.
“With the opening of the new cruise ship terminal, I am deeply concerned that without speed limits, we will see more ships colliding with our whales. We are gathering to honor and mourn the loss of this beautiful creature, and are calling on the cruise industry to immediately impose speed limits of 10 knots or less in sensitive whale areas throughout Alaska. People come from all over the world to experience our great whales, and the cruise industry must do its part to keep them safe. “There’s a role to play.”
feedback
Royal Caribbean acknowledged in a statement that its boat had collided with the whale. “We are saddened to hear that one of our ships collided with a whale while en route to the Seawards. We take any impact on the marine ecosystem very seriously,” the cruise line said in a statement. People On 22 June. “The ship immediately reported the incident to the appropriate authorities. We are cooperating fully with NOAA.”
The Center for Biological Diversity said in a Press release It had analyzed the ship’s data and claimed that the boat was traveling at a speed of 15-20 knots at the time of the incident. He sent letters to the company urging them to reduce the speed of their ships. The environmental nonprofit wants the company to adopt a policy of slowing its ships to 10 knots or less whenever they pass whale habitat.
“These events not only injure and kill individual whales, but, in the case of endangered populations, can have a significant impact on the species’ chances of survival and recovery,” the letter says.
“Human-caused deaths of large whales also harm marine ecosystems; whales play vital roles in our ocean, including cycling and transferring nutrients; fertilizing phytoplankton, which is the base of the food chain; and acting as carbon sinks throughout their lifetime.”
Context
Cruises are a popular way for tourists to explore Alaska’s vast landscapes. Indeed, during the peak summer tourist season, 57% visitors Reach by boat. Industry groups claim Cruises contribute $2.1 billion to Alaska’s economy.
Seward is a major port for cruise ships, and the city recently opened a new cruise ship terminal – the largest in the state. 10th June. Seward plans to dock more than 100 ships this summer for about 109,000 passengers.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the culmination of nearly a decade of efforts to unlock this world-class travel destination, bringing long-term economic opportunity to Seaward and beyond,” said Josh Carroll, senior vice president of deployment, destination development and port operations for Royal Caribbean. AlaskaBusiness Magazine.
whale incident occurred Greetings from the oceans Second arrival at the new Seaward Terminal. The Center for Biological Diversity is concerned about what the new terminal will mean for wildlife. It said, “The new terminal is expected to facilitate a significant increase in the size and frequency of cruise ships in the Seaward, increasing the risk of additional whale strikes, especially without speed limits for these ships.” Press release.
