To shift a ship for a whale

switchboard.nrdc.org Spot the feeding blue whale!

Since 2008 ship-strike related research has been conducted off the coast of California, specifically in response to concerns regarding the impact of shipping on feeding blue whales.  This research has been a collaborative effort, carried out by non-profit groups such as Cascadia Research Collective, academic institutes, government agencies and the office of Navel Research.  The data derived from tagging and observational studies has allowed scientists to better understand the interaction between feeding whales and ships, however, I won't go into the details here, rather I encourage you to check out the links I have posted at the end of this post.. 

The really cool thing that I want to highlight is the recent announcement that the US Coastguard has recommended shifting the shipping lanes in the Santa Barbara Channel.  By shifting the shipping lanes cargo ships will be moved away from feeding whales and therefore reduce the risk of ship-stike. To see the fruits of one's research culminate in a change of management strategy is perhaps what every scientist involved in a study such as this strives for.  It must certainly be gratifying to know that your findings have directly helped to reduce the risks that our activities have on other creatures in the ocean, and also elsewhere.  I know that this is certainly something that I strive for with my own work.

Further information on this research can be found in this nice summary document posted by Cascadia Research:
Summary of ship-strike related research on blue whales in 2011

The Coastguard recommendation can be found at:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/files/la-lb-pars-notice-11-1-11.pdf

And some media articles related to this issues include:
The LA Times
San Francisco Chronicle
ACS Online Journal

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