Whales . . . Should Cruisers Care ?

[boatman61]

An Irish boat was damaged this morning S of Lisbon and had to be towed in.

[GordMay]

New population estimate for right whales at its lowest in 20 years

A new estimate [1] of the number of endangered North Atlantic right whales, left on the planet, puts the population at 336, the lowest in nearly 20 years.

The figure, which represents the 2020 population, is down eight per cent from the previous estimate of 366 in 2019, and is far below the peak of 481 in 2011.

The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium [NARWC], a partnership of nearly 40 organizations with an interest in protecting the species, said the cause of the decline is clear. "There is no question that human activities are driving this species toward extinction," Scott Kraus, the chair of the consortium, said in a news release [2]. Entanglements in fishing gear and vessel strikes are among the biggest threats to the survival of the North Atlantic right whale. Research [3], by the New England Aquarium, has shown that 86 per cent of identified right whales have been entangled in fishing gear, at least once.

[1] “2020 Annual Report Card”~ North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium [NARWC]
➥ https://www.narwc.org/uploads/1/1/6/..._cardfinal.pdf

[2] There are Fewer than 400 North Atlantic Right Whales Left in the World
➥ https://www.neaq.org/about-us/news-m...RLYLGHpjz1_WkY

[3] “Maintenance of the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog, Whale Scarring and Visual Health Databases, Anthropogenic Injury Case Studies, and Near Real-Time Matching for Biopsy Efforts, Entangled, Injured, Sick, or Dead Right Whales” ~ by Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium
➥ https://www.narwc.org/uploads/1/1/6/...20_-_final.pdf

Right Whales ~ The Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium
➥ https://www.andersoncabotcenterforoc.../right-whales/

[GordMay]

“North Atlantic Right Whales” ~ Sailors for the Sea
The Problem - The Solution - Take Action
About ➥ https://www.sailorsforthesea.org/pro...c-right-whales
Petition ➥ https://act.oceana.org/page/50565/ac...rO59HomCje3rss

[GordMay]

A new study [1] finds that baleen whales, including blue and humpback whales, eat on average three times as much krill and other food as previously thought, and more food in means more poop out.

Paradoxically, the collapse of the krill may stem from fewer whales excreting iron-rich, digested krill, denying these ecosystems some crucial nutrients they need to thrive. Phytoplankton blooms, which sustain krill and many other parts of the food web, rely on that iron. Restoring whale populations to prewhaling levels could help bolster these ecosystems and even store more carbon in the ocean, researchers report in the Nov. 4 Nature. [1]

It turns out that, on average, baleen whales eat about three times as much food as earlier estimates suggested. For example, a blue whale can put down 16 metric tons of krill in a day, the researchers found. Energetically, that’s equivalent to around 10 million to 20 million calories, or about 30,000 ‘Big Macs’.
Whales aren’t eating that much every day. The animals go for months without a bite, when migrating vast distances. But the sheer volume of food that they consume, and then excrete, suggests that whales shape ocean ecosystems to a larger degree than previously thought, making their loss that much more impactful.

That’s because one role whales play is that of nutrient cycler. By feeding on iron-rich krill in the deep and returning some of that iron to the surface in the form of poop, whales help keep this crucial element in the food web. Excessive whaling might have broken this iron cycle. With less iron at the surface, phytoplankton blooms shrink, krill numbers crash and the ecosystem becomes less productive.

[1] “Baleen whale prey consumption based on high-resolution foraging measurements” ~ by Matthew S. Savoca et al
➥ https://www.nature.com/articles/s415...ciencenews.org




When whales eat krill, they aid iron cycling by defecating the iron-rich remains. They can also aid iron availability by mixing ocean waters through their vigorous tail movements. Since iron availability limits productivity in ocean waters, this fuelled a rich food web — which widespread whaling has disrupted.


More about:

“A whale of an appetite revealed by analysis of prey consumption” ~ by Victor Smetacek
Reaching a deeper understanding of the ocean ecosystems that maintain whales might aid conservation efforts. Measurements of the animals’ krill intake indicate that previous figures were substantial underestimates.
➥ https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02951-3

“The Enormous Hole That Whaling Left Behind” ~ by Ed Yong
The mass slaughter of whales destroyed far more than the creatures themselves.
➥ https://www.theatlantic.com/science/...l-iron/620604/

[Group9]

Originally Posted by AnchorageGuy

I seriously doubt there are whales running around out there looking for boats to attack to seek revenge. When whales and boats collide it is usually a result of the boat running into a sleeping whale. Where exactly have you seen all of these reports of them attacking boats except maybe the book Moby Dick? I suppose it is possible for the same reason any wild animal attacks. But all of our encounters with whales have found them curious and docile and an awesome experience.

The only time we came really close to a big whale, was coming up on a mother and her calf, who were just floating on the surface, and appeared to be asleep. The were about 500 yards off our beam, and my wife asked if we should alter course to go over and get a better look.

I told her, "Let's just let sleeping whales lie."

[deblen]

Originally Posted by dannc

We were sailing off of South Carolina and North Carolina last week and the Coast Guard had multiple radio calls regarding right whales along the coast. Alas, we did not see them. Did see dolphins but we always see dolphins.

Later,
Dan

Right Whale location map: https://whalemap.ocean.dal.ca/

[dannc]

Originally Posted by deblen

Right Whale location map: https://whalemap.ocean.dal.ca/

Very cool! Thank you!

Later,
Dan

[GordMay]

Record number of Bigg's killer whales spotted in the Salish Sea

According to the Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWAA), whale watchers counted 10 distinct groups of the transient animal, between Campbell River, B.C., and Puget Sound, Wa., for a new single-day high, of more than 70 [72?] whales.

The largest group spotted, said PWAA, was near the northern San Juan Islands, and had 18 whales.

Unlike their struggling relatives, southern resident killer whales, which feed on waning salmon stocks; Bigg's whales hunt marine mammals, and are thriving because of an abundance of seals and sea lions in the region, according to researchers.

More ➥ https://www.pacificwhalewatchassociation.com/media

[Therapy]

Who has a link to the years-ago article (PEW, I think) that states the number of fishes in the world is down 85% since the early 1800s when serious recordings were being kept?

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Therapy

Who has a link to the years-ago article (PEW, I think) that states the number of fishes in the world is down 85% since the early 1800s when serious recordings were being kept?

Not me, but ...


OVERFISHING AND DECLINE IN FISH NUMBERS

“According to a study by Ransom Myers and Boris Worm of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, published in Nature in 2003, 90 percent of the large predatory fish such as marlin, large cod, large sharks, tuna and swordfish have disappeared from the world’s oceans, Many have been snagged by long lines. There are worries that by reducing the species at the top of the food chain, entire marine ecosystems will be compromised.

The 90 percent figure was derived looking at data from Japanese fishing boats that use long lines with 2,000 or more baited hooks. In the late 1980s about 10 out of every 100 hooks snagged a fish. By the early 2002, the figure had been reduced to about 1 per 100...”

More ➥ https://factsanddetails.com/world/ca.../item2196.html

***

2048 No more fish

“The world’s oceans could be virtually emptied for fish by 2048. A study shows that if nothing changes, we will run out of seafood in 2048. If we want to preserve the ecosystems of the sea, change is needed...

... Nearly 80% of the world's fisheries that are already fully exploited, over-exploited, depleted, or in a state of collapse. Worldwide, 90% of the stocks of large predatory fish, such as sharks, tuna, marlin, and swordfish, are already gone! ...”

More ➥ https://www.theworldcounts.com/chall...atistics/story

***

Ocean Fish Numbers Cut in Half Since 1970

“The amount of fish in the oceans has halved since 1970, in a plunge to the "brink of collapse" caused by over-fishing and other threats, the WWF conservation group said on Wednesday.

Populations of some commercial fish stocks, such as a group including tuna, mackerel and bonito, had fallen by almost 75 percent, according to a study by the WWF and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL)...”

More ➥ https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...lf-since-1970/

***

90% of fish stocks are used up – fisheries subsidies must stop emptying the ocean

“... The list of the ocean’s troubles is long, but one item demands immediate attention: harmful fisheries subsidies. Nearly 90% of the world’s marine fish stocks are now fully exploited, overexploited or depleted. There is no doubt that fisheries subsidies play a big role. Without them, we could slow the overexploitation of fish stocks, deal with the overcapacity of fishing fleets, and tackle the scourge of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing...”

More ➥ https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/...ies-must-stop/

[GordMay]

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans says one North Atlantic right whale was spotted, by surveillance aircraft, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, north of Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Que., on Tuesday [May 3].
The sighting has triggered a 15-day fishing closure, in specific fishing grids, in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.

[hpeer]

FWIW we just did a passage Delaware to St Thomas.

West of the Gulf Stream we saw many dolphin and 3 or 4 pods of whales. One group of dolphins had a small whale in the group, several times larger than the dolphins but acting just like them. Mostly the whales were just surface feeding. Ones tail fin bottom was a distinct salmon color and he showed it a number of times. Then, once I saw a single very large light whale with a small dorsal fin. Perhaps a blue?

East of the GS we saw next to nothing: birds, fish, nothing. A small handful of flying fish. Then we saw a line humpback patting the water with his pure white fin. We must have nearly hit him as he was almost directly behind us.

I find it much nicer to have some company afloat, it is very enriching, spiritual even, to share nature with other creatures.

2¢

[dannc]

Originally Posted by hpeer

...

East of the GS we saw next to nothing: birds, fish, nothing. A small handful of flying fish. Then we saw a line humpback patting the water with his pure white fin. We must have nearly hit him as he was almost directly behind us.

...

The Wall Street Journal had a surprising article this week about cruisers and the impact of the pandemic, https://www.wsj.com/articles/sailors...ts_pos1&page=1

Two of the little tidbits I found interesting was a couple in Ireland who were helping Cruisers and this was mentioned:

Once, Mr. Blackwell’s phone buzzed in the middle of the night. It was a sailor whose boat was struck by lightning between Bermuda and the Caribbean, frying all electronics except his phone. The Blackwells helped direct him to the nearest port. Another boat called for help when it hit a whale near the Azores and started sinking. The Blackwells alerted a nearby boat that rescued the sailors.

I really wonder how many cruising boats are hit by, or hit, whales, and sink. I just read random stories from time to time about boats sinking from whale strikes. At least the lightning strike did not sink the other boat.

Later,
Dan

[Rumrace]

In puerto Vallarta one winter a female whale was delaying leaving north to care for a late Cafe. The male was getting Hangry for food in Alaska. He bumped several boats more to scrape barnacles and be Grumpy.
I’ve watched. big whales with cafes slap the water with the tail. She’s will have a sister near by to politely steer you away.
I scuba Dive in BC 3Rd attempt to see 6 gill Sharks I got passed by the BC killer whale pack. They were escorting 6 gills in and out of their territory. On a normal day Killer whales and belugas will attack any shark and kill it in seconds. Killers are intimidating but never aggressive. Belugas I’d never get near. I’ve seen one in the St Lawrence bite an Arctic shark in half for sport.
In Australia out of Caurns a est 47’ whale shark shows up when I just dropped 8 divers in. All on the surface the curious whale shark circled us going away and back. To be a responsible scuba instructor and set an example on what not to do I grabbed his dorsal fin on a close pass. The speed was amazing and my mas started to flutter and flood so I let go. 40 feet later the massive tail was about to break bones. The beast paused his tail as not to hurt me.
Brazil tried two Dolphins murder. Apparently two American tourist thought it would be fun to grab a guys girl by the tail while his drunk friend rammed a popsicle stick in her blow hole. Wouldn’t sit well with this dolphin he killed both tourists instantly.

[hpeer]

There is some guy writing a blog called “Loose Cannon.” A mish mash of nautical themed stuff. He just reprinted an article about a cat hitting a whale and sinking as a resultZ. I hat was REALLY interesting was that they were rescued by a Chinese fishing boat and what they found out about that the effort. The ships were ling liners, shark fins. They took crew under a 2 year contract and never touched ground in that entire period. They were supported by fueling tankers and resupply vessels.

I was putting out my fishing lure and nearly snagged a giant sunfish on the surface. Recently a cat struck one of those and was holed and/or lost.

But all in all I suspect our over fishing is a bigger threat than ship strikes. Shark fins, jeesh. My Dad had an iron rule; if you shot it you ate it, whole hog. I once made “4 and 20 blackbirds baked in a pie” using starlings. I ate it, all if it.

And its their world, we are but interlopers.