Ship Strikes Kill Two More Sperm Whales Off Canary Islands: Urgent Call for Mandatory Speed Limits

Fatal Collisions Claim Young Lives

The recent discoveries off Tenerife is a tragic reflection exposing the impact of maritime traffic on the local whale population. According to researchers from the Oceanographic Centre of the Canary Islands, the female whale measured just 9 metres – the size at which sperm whales reach sexual maturity. This means she likely reproduced only once, or possibly not at all, before her life was cut short. The second victim, a juvenile whale, will never have the opportunity to contribute to the species’ recovery. Both animals bore clear marks of being hit by a vessel resulting in its death.

Canary Islands Face Decline in its Sperm Whale Population

The Canary Islands archipelago has experienced a catastrophic 50% decline in its sperm whale population, making these latest deaths particularly significant. Ship strikes have been identified as the primary human-induced cause of death for these largest toothed whales in these waters, with high-speed ferries posing the greatest threat.

Carlos Bravo, Ocean Policy Expert at OceanCare, emphasizes the urgency of the situation: “Decision makers have to be alarmed by the increase in vessel strikes of endangered whales, particularly on routes where high-speed ferries operate. Political leaders must act without further delay and impose mandatory speed limits in these high-risk areas.”

The Science Behind Ship Strike Prevention

Research consistently shows that vessel speed is the critical factor when it comes to the risk of fatal collisions with whales and other marine megafauna. When ships maintain speeds below 10 knots in whale habitats, the probability of lethal collisions drops dramatically. This simple operational change offers further multiple environmental benefits.
Reduced ship speeds contribute in addition to:

• Less underwater noise pollution
• Decreased greenhouse gas emissions
• Reduction in the emission of other air pollutants

Whales inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea Faces Similar Threats

The problem of vessel strikes is a global one and not specific to the Canary Islands. In the Mediterranean Sea for example, both sperm whales and fin whales are now listed as endangered species by IUCN, with ship strikes identified as the main human-induced cause of death. The slow reproductive rates and extended growth periods of these species mean populations cannot recover quickly enough to compensate for ongoing losses.

The Ethical Imperative for Action

Beyond the conservation implications, experts argue that the suffering inflicted on these highly intelligent animals raises serious ethical concerns. Sperm whales live in tight-knit family groups with complex social bonds, meaning each death reverberates throughout the entire community. The images of propeller wounds on these magnificent creatures or being hit by the hull serve as a stark reminder of the preventable nature of these tragedies. Unlike many conservation challenges, the solution to ship strikes could become addressed and mitigated relatively simple.

Urgent Call for Political Action

OceanCare is calling for immediate implementation of mandatory vessel speed limits in high-risk areas of collisions. The knowledge in how to prevent strikes to happen already exist – what’s missing is often the political will to implement life-saving measures.

In areas such as the waters around the Canary Islands and the north-western Mediterranean, where scientific studies have concluded that these cetaceans are present throughout the entire area, it is not possible to predict the specific locations where these large whales may be found at any given time. Consequently, the possibility of ships altering their routes to avoid collisions with these whales is not a viable option. In conclusion, the only viable solution to effectively prevent fatal collisions between ships and these marine mammals is for ships to reduce their speed.

How You Can Support

The conservation community is mobilising public support for binding speed reduction measures through the Because Our Planet Is Blue campaign. Citizens can add their voices to the growing demand for mandatory vessel speed restrictions by signing the petition at https://ourplanetisblue.org.

With whale populations hanging in the balance, every voice counts in pressuring decision-makers to prioritize marine wildlife protection over shipping industry convenience.