There are six species of sea turtles listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. They are at risk of being struck by vessels as they surface to breathe or as they rest, bask, or feed near the surface or in shallow water. waters, from very close to shore to open ocean. Whale Alert app Vessel Strikes and Sea Turtles Report dead or injured whales through your local stranding hotline Whale Alert Appįishermen, recreational boaters, industry partners, and volunteer networks can use the Whale Alert app to stay up to date on where whales have recently been detected and avoid these areas. For such large animals, whales can be surprisingly hard to spot, especially in low light or poor weather conditions. In most cases, when mariners reported a collision, they did not see the whale prior to striking it. Remaining alert and vigilant on the water is necessary, but is not sufficient alone to prevent a whale strike. Slow transit when operating in areas where large whales are likely to be present Wear polarized sunglasses to better see marine animals To avoid hitting whales, mariners should:Īlways be alert and vigilant on the water People have been injured and boats have sustained significant damage and even sunk as a result of collisions with whales. When these smaller vessels are involved, both the boaters and the whales are at risk. In these cases, mariners feel the vessel collisions and are able to report these events to NOAA or the U.S. The situation is very different when small or medium sized vessels are involved in collisions. Even then the vessel operator might not be aware of the presence of the struck whale until they come into port. Some species of large whales become wedged across the bulbous bows of large vessels following a strike. There can be no noticeable change in speed or other signal. Given the size of large merchant and cruise vessels, it is unlikely that their operators will detect a whale strike when it occurs. It is challenging to determine when, where, and how many large whale vessel strikes occur. Whales are at particular risk when their core habitats overlap with areas of dense, fast-transiting vessel traffic. Researchers have documented vessel collisions with whales along every U.S. Vessel Strikes and Large WhalesĪll species of marine mammals are at risk of vessel strike, including and especially large whales. Working with these networks helps us to better understand the frequency and severity of vessel collisions and the risk factors involved. Both networks assess and transport sick and injured marine mammals and sea turtles to permitted rehabilitation facilities, conduct necropsies on dead animals, and help educate the public about marine mammal and sea turtle conservation. We document and monitor vessel strike events through carcass examinations by the Marine Mammal Stranding Network and the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network. Identify solutions aimed at reducing vessel strikes of marine animals Study and collect information on vessel strike eventsĬollect and analyze data on vessel trafficįund and conduct aerial surveys, acoustic monitoring, tagging, and research activities to improve our understanding of marine animal distribution

Coast Guard, other federal agencies, the commercial shipping industry, and others to: We gather information on the distribution of animals at risk of vessel strike, such as whales, dolphins, seals, sea turtles, and protected fish in our waters. We also educate vessel operators on responsible boating practices.

NOAA Fisheries applies regulatory requirements and management practices to reduce the risk of vessel strikes, especially in areas with heavy vessel traffic. Collisions involving larger marine animals and small or medium sized boats can damage vessels and cause serious, sometimes fatal, injuries to people, especially when the vessels are operating at high speeds. Marine mammals, sea turtles, and protected fish like sturgeon and giant manta rays are some of the species struck by vessels and often injured or killed. Many marine animals may not be able to detect a vessel, nor move out of the way of an approaching vessel. Marine animals are challenging for vessel operators to see, as they spend most or all of their time underwater and generally have a low profile when surfacing to breathe. Collisions can occur anywhere vessels cross paths with marine life but are more common in areas with both high vessel traffic and many animals. Vessels of any size and type can strike and kill or injure marine life.

Giant manta ray stuffed animal