Downes: We must coexist to save the North Atlantic right whale
Azzedine Downes is the president and CEO of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
Winter’s near arrival in the Northern Hemisphere marks the beginning of the North Atlantic right whale calving season, a time enshrouded in great anticipation. Over the next five months, many right whales will navigate the industrial maze of shipping lanes, snow crab fisheries and lobster gear spanning the Atlantic coastline between northern feeding grounds and southern calving waters. The journey is treacherous, but the reward is priceless. Each new birth establishes a stronger chance of survival for the International Union for Conservation of Nature-designated critically endangered species. Already in the end of November, we were fortunate to have received the news of the first right whale calf of the season officially spotted off the coast of South Carolina, with hopes more are on the way.
The North Atlantic right whale’s history is one of persecution and perseverance. Over a century of whaling left the species nearly decimated by the early 1900s, However, through international collaboration and protective measures, the population has shown signs of sporadic, albeit brief, stabilization. While the days of hunting right whales are far behind us, history once again repeats itself, as right whales fight for survival against human-caused peril.
In October, the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium released its latest official population estimate: Just 356 individual right whales remain, including only 70 reproductive females. The dual threat of vessel strikes and entanglement, as well as compounding environmental stressors heightened by climate change, have widened the calving interval for reproductive females. Historically, three-year birthing intervals were the standard for stable population growth, but today, right whale mothers give birth to one calf every six to 10 years. At this rate, it is highly possible that the North Atlantic right becomes functionally extinct in under a decade.
The threats right whales face continue to be driven by human activity. Between 2003-18, vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear caused 88.4% of determinable North Atlantic right whale deaths. Concealed by the ocean’s depths, whale entanglements often go unseen to the average eye — but the realities are all too real. Thick ropes constrict flukes and jaws, limiting the whale’s ability to move and feed freely. Lines tighten around the body, creating lacerations and complications for breeding and birthing. Unfortunately, over 85% of all North Atlantic right whales have suffered from entanglement at least once in their lifetimes.
Every individual right whale is of immense importance to the survival of the species, especially when the total population is so low. However, despite these jarringly depleted population numbers and the foreboding ticking clock of extinction, hope is not altogether lost. The path forward is through solutions promoting coexistence between whales and people. And that is precisely what the International Fund for Animal Welfare prioritizes with the support of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Save Our Species program.
We have the solution: We can reduce entanglement of the right whales by removing the vertical line buoy from lobster and Jonah crab fishing pots during key times of the year when right whales are in the area. IFAW, with the support of IUCN, has led a multipronged approach across the supply chain, with key stakeholders in the fishing community, to ensure that the anglers and right whales can both stay afloat.
First, we’ve ensured the on-demand or “ropeless” technology is ready for deployment to fishers for testing and have partnered with gear manufacturing companies like the Sea Mammal Education Learning Technology Society, EdgeTech and Blue Ocean Gear, as well as leading scientists, to continually improve upon the efficacy and effectiveness of the gear.
Second, we believe the fishing community is an essential part of the solution and have continually demonstrated our commitment to protecting the livelihoods of its members. We have joined our government, nongovernmental organizations and industry stakeholder partners to facilitate in-season, offshore on-demand gear testing. In addition to advocating for more funding for the transition to on-demand gear, we’ve partnered with the New England lobster industry community for gear demonstrations and safety trainings, while also directly contributing to the on-demand gear library.
Third, we commissioned a neutral-party research report, published by FishWise, a nonprofit sustainable seafood consultancy, which concluded that lobster buyers would purchase on-demand-caught seafood if it was commercially available and at an accessible cost. To complete the cycle from market to table, the fund was proud to partner with chef Jody Adam’s restaurant TRADE in Boston to serve the first in-eatery on-demand-caught lobster to industry stakeholders, including upstream retail purchasers.
Each one of us — policymakers, conservationists, consumers, mariners and fishers alike — has a role in saving this magnificent species. Some solutions are simple, while others are more technological — yet all are certainly within reach. If we collectively work together, a hopeful future lies ahead.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
