Ship's compliance with a traffic separation scheme and speed limit in the Gulf of Panama and implications for the risk to humpback whales

Guzmán, Héctor M.; Hinojosa, N A; Kaiser, Stefanie

doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104113

Cited by 25 publications

(17 citation statements)

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“…Reducing the number of whales killed by vessels around the world remains a challenging task (Clapham et al, 1999;Laist et al, 2001;van der Hoop et al, 2013). Vessel routing and speed reductions remain the primary tools employed (Silber et al, 2012b;Conn and Silber, 2013;Constantine et al, 2015;Rockwood et al, 2017;Guzman et al, 2020), though other technical approaches such as real-time whale position reporting have also been used (Sèbe et al, 2019). The implementation of Constantine et al, 2015;Silber et al, 2015;Freedman et al, 2017;Guzman et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Vessel routing and speed reductions remain the primary tools employed (Silber et al, 2012b;Conn and Silber, 2013;Constantine et al, 2015;Rockwood et al, 2017;Guzman et al, 2020), though other technical approaches such as real-time whale position reporting have also been used (Sèbe et al, 2019). The implementation of Constantine et al, 2015;Silber et al, 2015;Freedman et al, 2017;Guzman et al, 2020). While slower vessel speeds can have additional benefits such as decreased ocean noise, lower emissions, and greater fuel efficiency (Leaper, 2019), longer transit times can add costs (Betz et al, 2011;Gonyo et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A lack of cooperation with voluntary VSR measures has been common (Wiley et al, 2008;Silber et al, 2012a;Freedman et al, 2017;Guzman et al, 2020), though progress has been made in some cases (Constantine et al, 2015;Moore et al, 2018;Rockwood et al, 2020a). In contrast, noteworthy increases in compliance occurred after right whale protections on the East Coast were made mandatory (Lagueux et al, 2011;Silber et al, 2014).…”

Section: Assessing Management Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To date, while some voluntary programs have shown signs of increasing cooperation (e.g., Constantine et al, 2015), most other voluntary VSRs have been ineffective (McKenna et al, 2012;Laist et al, 2014;Freedman et al, 2017). As one of the few tools to decrease vessel strike deaths, speed reductions, both mandated and voluntary, have now been used around the world from New Zealand to Panama to the Mediterranean to the Pacific coast of North America (Louzao et al, 2009;Constantine et al, 2015;Freedman et al, 2017;Guzman et al, 2020;Rockwood et al, 2020b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modeling Whale Deaths From Vessel Strikes to Reduce the Risk of Fatality to Endangered Whales

et al. 2021

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Vessel strikes have been documented around the world and frequently figure as a top human cause of large whale mortality. The shipping lanes in the Santa Barbara Channel, California and nearby waters have some of the highest predicted whale mortality from vessel strikes in the United States waters of the eastern Pacific. Beginning in 2007, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration requested voluntary vessel speed reductions (VSRs) for vessels greater than 300 GT traveling in the Santa Barbara Channel shipping routes to decrease whale mortality from ship strikes. We employed a ship strike model using whale density data and automatic identification system (AIS) vessel data to estimate mortality under several management scenarios. To assess the effect of the VSR on strike mortality, we bootstrapped speeds from vessels greater than 19 m long that transited when no VSR was in place. Finally, we calculated the predicted mortality for hypothetical cooperation scenarios by artificially adding speed caps post-hoc to real vessel transits. For 2012–2018, we estimated that in our study area on average during summer/fall (June–November) 8.9 blue, 4.6 humpback, and 9.7 fin whales were killed from ship strikes each year (13–26% greater than previously estimated). We evaluated winter/spring (January–April) humpback mortality for the first time, resulting in an estimate of 5.7 deaths on average per year. Poor cooperation with the VSR led to low (5% maximum) to no reductions in the estimated number of strike mortalities. Evaluating potential scenarios showed that if 95% cooperation occurred in the lanes, whale deaths there would decrease by 22–26%. Adding VSRs with similar cooperation levels at the northern end of the Santa Barbara Channel and south of Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary could decrease estimated strike mortalities in those areas by 30%. If VSRs were added and cooperation reached 95% there and in the lanes, we estimate a 21–29% decrease in vessel strike mortalities could be attained relative to estimated mortality in the entire study area. To decrease the vessel strike related whale mortalities in this region, we recommend expanding the VSR areas and increasing cooperation voluntarily, or considering mandatory speed limits if desired cooperation levels cannot otherwise be met.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Assessing Management Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modeling Whale Deaths From Vessel Strikes to Reduce the Risk of Fatality to Endangered Whales

et al. 2021

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“…Initially these institutions were administered by the United States, but thanks to close collaboration with local authorities and universities, they have played a central role in advancing Panama's scientific output in public health, biodiversity conservation, and in the training of Panamanian scientists (Sholts et al, 2021). Many new viruses discovered in Panama were first described at the Gorgas, and the results of oceanographic research on underwater acoustics conducted by STRI led the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to modify ship routes and speed limits entering the Panama Canal, with the goal of reducing the risk of humpback whale vessel collisions (Guzman et al, 2020). The BioMuseo, a biodiversity museum, has become a popular tourist attraction with an important role in the education of the general population.…”

Section: Panamamentioning

confidence: 99%

Closing the Gap Between Emerging Initiatives and Integrated Strategies to Strengthen Science Diplomacy in Latin America

López‐Vergès

Macías-Navarro²,

Hernández-Mondragón

et al. 2021

Front. Res. Metr. Anal.

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Science diplomacy is a fast-growing field of research, policy, and practice dedicated to understanding and reinforcing the connections between science and international affairs to tackle national, regional, and global issues. By aligning science and diplomacy, countries can attract talent, strengthen their national research ecosystems, provide avenues for participation of scientists in policy, and coordinate integrated solutions to challenges with technical dimensions. While Latin America has a long tradition of bilateral and regional cooperation, science still plays a marginal role in foreign policy, as has become evidenced by the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With few exceptions, Latin American nations have a relatively immature science, technology, and innovation ecosystem, compounded by low public and private investments in research, coexisting with profound socio-economic inequalities, and large vulnerable populations. Such challenging conditions have created barriers to a fluid relationship between science and diplomacy, fundamentally characterized by inefficient communication between scientists and policymakers, weak collaboration channels, and duplicated roles, which altogether perpetuate siloed mentalities and a lack of trust between the two communities. Over the last decade, a first influential wave of Latin American scientists, diplomats, and other professionals, including five of the co-authors, have undertaken science diplomacy training provided by specialized organizations. Through these experiences, we recognized the need to elevate awareness and build capacities in science diplomacy in our respective countries and overall, across Latin America. Here, we describe emerging efforts and mechanisms to bridge the gap between scientists and policymakers at the national and regional level. Furthermore, we offer recommendations to amplify the impact of those pioneering initiatives toward consolidating a robust science diplomacy practice across the region. The national experiences described from Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama can serve as a roadmap for other Latin American nations in the early process of developing a science diplomacy strategy, so they can also align themselves to a collective pathway. Most critically, we propose a way forward so that Latin America can leapfrog beyond disjointed training of individuals into integrated institutional strategies that can harness the tools of science diplomacy to enhance science-informed multilateral cooperation and enable more effective science-informed policymaking.

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Conserving Marine Mammal Spaces and Habitats

Hoyt

2022

Ethology and Behavioral Ecology of Marine Mammals

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Ship's compliance with a traffic separation scheme and speed limit in the Gulf of Panama and implications for the risk to humpback whales

Cited by 25 publications

References 50 publications

Modeling Whale Deaths From Vessel Strikes to Reduce the Risk of Fatality to Endangered Whales

Modeling Whale Deaths From Vessel Strikes to Reduce the Risk of Fatality to Endangered Whales

Closing the Gap Between Emerging Initiatives and Integrated Strategies to Strengthen Science Diplomacy in Latin America

Conserving Marine Mammal Spaces and Habitats

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