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Ships caused 2 whale deaths, scientist says
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More from County NewsAt least two deaths of blue whales in the Santa Barbara Channel were caused by the massive creatures running into container ships, a scientist said Thursday.
A higher concentration of whales than normal, combined with ships traveling quickly, led to at least two whales dying, said Paul Collins, curator of vertebrate zoology at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. As many as five died because of ship strikes, but biologists were able to do necropsies on only two of the animals.
"We've never had this many struck before," he said.
On Thursday the museum hosted a presentation about its findings and discussed what can be done to protect whales in the future.
Before the meeting, Collins said an admonishment that went out to mariners after the strikes warning them to slow down while in the channel was effective.
He said more monitoring needs to take place when whales are present in the channel so similar warnings can be issued.
"Hopefully, they can put out the notice before, instead of after, ship strikes," he said.
Part of the problem was that there were more blue whales in the shipping lanes than normal, Collins said. Weather patterns helped lead to more krill in the channel, which lured the whales.
When concentrating on eating, the whales may not have paid as much attention to the ships that cruise by at speeds topping 30 mph.
Also, whales haven't evolved to deal with large, fast things such as ships moving through the water, Collins said.
It isn't too different from a deer on the road getting hit by a car, he said.
The whales' deaths gave scientists an opportunity to learn more about possibly the largest animals to ever inhabit the earth, he said. A blue whale can grow to about 100 feet in length and weigh more than 100 tons.
A whale that was towed to Naval Base Ventura County had been dead for only a few days and gave researchers the rare opportunity to collect fresh tissue and analyze it. Another whale that washed up on San Miguel Island was about six months pregnant, and Collins was able to collect bones and tissue from the more than 10-foot fetus.
Collins said he was planning to put some of those bones on display.
The skull bones from another whale are being dried so the museum can replace older ones on a skeleton in front of the museum.
Posted by Hueneme_girl29 on February 22, 2008 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"It isn't too different from a deer on the road getting hit by a car, he said".......
I know this isnt quite logical, but, if we'd stay out of animals "territories" then this wouldnt happen! I know, that will never happen, but, as always, THEY were here FIRST. We keep building into their enviroments. Just like when mountain lions come down near peoples neighborhoods looking for food/water, we keep building, and they have no where to go. But, we'll keep building and running wild animals out of their own homes. No doubt about it.
Posted by JumpinJack on February 22, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
(1) Whales are protected species.
(2) A multiplying number of fast cargo ships is plowing through a feeding area where a known concentration of protected species are feeding.
(3) Collisions multiply.
Can anyone explain to me why the Coast Guard has drawn shipping channels through the Santa Barbara Channel? This is the nautical equivalent of Highway 118 through Moorpark.
The shipping lanes should be closed to traffic -- at the very least when a concentration of whales is feeding in the area.
The ships should be required to travel at very-slow speed while in the area of the whales. The shipping lanes should be closed when whales are concentrating. The ships should alter their routes and access San Pedro and Long Beach from courses outside the islands.
Posted by bruceski44 on February 22, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You people will believe anything! Doesn't anyone want to see more information about how the scientist arrived at his conclusion? There is not enough information in this article for me to be sure that this isn't some crackpot idea!
Posted by Jesus on February 22, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow!! Two very ignorant Bruces in a row!!!
I'll make sure I don't name my kids Bruce, that's for sure!!!
Posted by Metalhaid on February 22, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Strange. It's not as if the 'shipping lane' has yellow stripes down it or something...can't they go around the animals when there's a report of lots of large marine mammals in the accustomed area? On the other hand, it is very hard to turn a ship going 30 mph (or *knots* or whatever the term is,) not like braking for a deer in your Suburban.
Posted by EthicalPerson on February 22, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What happened to the whales is sad, but I have no solution.
Posted by rcamacho on February 22, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Be a Hero,
Save a Whale.
but
Save a Baby,
Go to Jail.
Posted by bruceski44 on February 22, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To the one that calls itself Jesus:
Meanwhile I'll be hoping you don't have kids. We don't need any more crackpots.
I'm only ignorant because the article contains no facts, proof or even an explanation of how the scientist concluded the whales died from colliding with a ship. I'd rather be ignorant than a fool. Do you know what the real Jesus says about fools?
Posted by latina79 on February 22, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JESUS WOULD SAY LET THERE BE FOOLS LIKE BRUCE. :) SOMEONE NEEDS A CHILL PILL.
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