Mission

1. Ship Strikes

Collisions with large vessels, such as cargo ships, tankers, and cruise ships, are one of the leading causes of injury and death among cetaceans.

These collisions can cause severe trauma, often resulting in death or debilitating injuries. Increased maritime traffic in areas where cetaceans live and migrate intensifies this risk.

Hydrofoils for example are high-speed ferries that use underwater wings (hydrofoils) to lift the hull above the water, reducing drag and allowing for greater speed and fuel efficiency. These vessels are commonly used for passenger transport between islands, significantly cutting travel times compared to traditional ferries.

However, their speed and operational routes can pose risks to marine life, particularly whales. The main concerns include:

• Collision Risk – Hydrofoils travel at high speeds (often over 40 knots), reducing the time marine mammals have to detect and avoid them. This increases the risk of fatal collisions.
• Noise Pollution – While hydrofoils generate less underwater noise than conventional ships because their hulls are lifted above the water, their propellers and support structures still produce significant noise. This can interfere with cetacean communication and navigation, potentially disrupting feeding and migration patterns.

• Habitat Disruption – Frequent high-speed ferry routes may cause behavioural changes in cetacean, leading them to avoid certain areas that are crucial for feeding or breeding. This displacement can have long-term effects on populations, especially in regions where hydrofoil routes overlap with important whale habitats.

2. Entanglement in Fishing Gear

Cetaceans can become accidentally entangled in fishing nets, ropes, and other equipment.

This can cause physical injury, stress, and even drowning. Some species, like the North Atlantic right whale, are critically endangered due to frequent entanglement in fishing gear.

3. Pollution

Chemical Pollution: Chemicals like heavy metals (e.g., mercury) and pesticides can accumulate in the tissues of cetaceans, disrupting their health, reproduction, and immune systems.

Plastic Pollution: Cetaceans can ingest or become entangled in plastic waste, leading to internal damage, suffocation, or starvation.

Noise Pollution: Ships, sonar, and other underwater human activities produce noise that disrupts cetaceans’ ability to communicate, navigate, and hunt. This can lead to disorientation, stranding, and even death.

4. Climate Change

Impact on Habitats: Rising ocean temperatures and changes in prey availability affect cetaceans’ migratory patterns and food sources.

Ocean Acidification: Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also leads to ocean acidification, which affects marine ecosystems, including the prey species cetaceans rely on.

5. Overfishing and Depletion of Prey

The overexploitation of fish stocks reduces the food available to cetaceans. Some species, like baleen whales, depend on abundant populations of krill or small fish.

Reduced prey availability can lead to malnutrition, lower reproductive rates, and forced migration to less optimal habitats.

6. Whaling

Despite an international ban on commercial whaling, illegal hunting and the controversial practice of whaling for scientific purposes still threaten cetaceans.

Some species of whales are still targeted for their meat, blubber, and other body parts.

7. Tourism

While whale and dolphin watching can promote conservation awareness, poorly managed tourism can have detrimental effects on cetaceans.

Disruption of Natural Behavior: Boats approaching too closely or using loud engines can disturb cetaceans’ feeding, mating, and social interactions. In some cases, cetaceans may abandon important areas like feeding grounds or calving sites due to human presence.

Stress: Frequent close encounters with boats can cause stress, leading to changes in migration patterns or abandonment of preferred habitats.

Risk of Collision: In popular tourist destinations, the risk of ship strikes increases due to the concentration of boats in areas where cetaceans are known to frequent. On several occasions, getting too close to the animals with whale watching vessels resulted in hurting the animals which were left with superficial and often even severe scarring. 

8. Habitat Degradation

Coastal Development: Urbanisation, construction of ports, and other developments along coastlines can degrade important cetacean habitats, like shallow feeding grounds and breeding areas.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): The creation of MPAs can help protect cetaceans, but many areas remain unprotected or face threats like illegal fishing or industrial activities.

9. Disease

Cetaceans can be affected by a variety of diseases, often exacerbated by environmental stresses such as pollution and climate change.

Disease outbreaks can lead to significant declines in population, especially when compounded by other threats.

In summary, while cetaceans face a range of natural and human-induced threats, many of these are preventable or mitigated through increased protection, sustainable practices, and better management of tourism activities. Awareness and action are critical to ensuring their long-term survival.