P. 10 - LA PLAYA
JULY / JULIO 2014
WWW.PLAYACOMMUNITY.COM
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Protecting Humpback Whales in Panama
Changes within the Commercial Shipping Lanes expected to reduce Whale-Ship collisions by 93%
approved the implementation of
four Traffic Separation Schemes
(TSSs), for ships entering and
exiting the Panama Canal and
surrounding ports. The goal of the
TSSs is to minimize the overlay of
shipping routes and humpback
whale migration patterns.
By
reducing the speed of ships and
limiting their course when traveling
near the Gulf of Panama, the
recently approved plan is expected
to have several benefits.
T
wo migrations of humpbacks
whales occur in Panama
annually, and the presence of
these remarkable mammals draws
spectators from all over the world.
The larger of the two migrations
comes
from
the
Southern
hemisphere. This migration occurs
between June and November. A
smaller migration, coming from the
Northern hemisphere, arrives in
February. This year, the Southern
hemisphere humpback migration
has arrived almost 3 weeks early to
mate and calf in the warm shallow
waters in the Gulf of Panama.
With over 1000 humpbacks wintering in the heavily trafficked area
surrounding the southern end of the
Panama
Canal,
interactions
between the whales and ships are
not uncommon. In recent years,
several studies have concluded
that reducing interactions between
whales and commercial vessels is
vital for greater protection of
whales. In an article by Marine
Mammal Science, it was revealed
that, “ship strikes of whales may be
more common that previously
suspected and, in some cases, may
constitute significant conservation
issues.” (Marine Mammal Science,
2001) This spring Panama made a
large stride towards mitigating
whale–ship interactions in the Gulf
of Panama.
On May 23, 2014, the International
Maritime Organization unanimously
A study by Smithsonian marine
ecologist Hector Guzman suggests
that not only will TSSs minimize
incidents
between
humpback
whales and commercial vessels
drastically; they will also limit
commercial ship interactions with
costal fishing boats. An added
benefit of the TSSs is that they will
reduce maritime accidents, such as
oil spills, that could lead to the
degradation of Panama’s protected
coastal areas, wildlife sanctuaries
and UNESCO world heritage sites.
Almost 17,000 vessels traverse the
Gulf annually, and with the canal
expansion underway it is likely this
number will increase. As Panama
continues to develop it is vital that
legislation keep pace and protect
the country’s biodiversity.
With
research from the Smithsonian,
conservationists have been armed
with the knowledge they need to
create a clear conservation strategy
for humpbacks and their breeding
grounds.
By tagging whales with satellite
transmitters
Guzman
and
colleagues at the Smithsonian have
been able to follow the humpbacks
over their last two southern migrations. Their research suggests that
the Pacific entrance of the Canal is
an important breeding area for
humpbacks whales and several
other species of cetaceans.
By implementing TSSs over their
4-month mating season throughout
the Gulf area, Guzman estimates
collisions between ships and
whales could be reduced by 93
percent, and others interactions
reduced by 95 percent. The benefit
of implementing the plan is clear,
however it will take time to put the
policy into effect, says Guzman.
TSSs will be implemented in
Panama over the next six months,
after which commercial vessels will
be required to comply with the new
regulations.
While
TSSs
commence in Panama, the effort to
protect humpbacks globally continues. While we celebrate his
success in Panama, Guzman is still
working to develop a corridor for
humpback whales along the entire
coast of Central and South
America.