New publication on ship-strikes of large whales

The following paper on ship strikes of large whales recovered in Washington State waters 1980-2006 has recently been published online:

Douglas, A.B., J. Calambokidis, S. Raverty, S.J. Jeffries, D.M. Lambourn and S.A. Norman. 2008. Incidence of ship strikes of large whales in Washington State. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. doi:10.1017/S0025315408000295, Published online by Cambridge University Press 17 March 2008

ABSTRACT: Ship strikes of large whales cause mortalities worldwide, but there is uncertainty regarding the frequency and species involved. We examined 130 records (from 1980-2006) of large whale strandings in Washington State. Nineteen strandings (seven species) had evidence of ship-strikes. Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) had the highest incidence of antemortem ship strike (five of seven, with the remaining two possibly postmortem) and all but one occurring since 2002. Six gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) suffered “possible ship strike” injuries, likely the result of their large numbers in the area, rather than high levels of ship strikes. Only one possible ship-struck humpback whale was recorded, despite concentrations of humpbacks feeding within shipping lanes in this region. This study shows dramatic differences in occurrences of ship-struck large whales by species, which we believe results from a combination of species’ vulnerability to ship strikes, and how likely a struck whale is to be caught up on the bow of a ship and brought to waters where it can be examined.

Ship-struck Sei whale recovered near Port Angeles, Washington. 15 September, 2003. 

Link to full PDF of article