The problem of whales' protection has been chasing international marine committees for decades, as it is not only about environmental value, but effective navigation, oil spills and ocean-based industry in total. However, an implementation of some protective tools occurs rarely, as fast as mankind clashes with new ecological issues. The so-called whale wars, initiated by whales' rights protestors, encourage politicians, statesmen and people to improve the situation. One of the recent developments is associated with giving up on some navigation routes in the California region.
In November 2012, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which controls the water navigation around the world, announced the adoption of three proposals to improve navigation safety and reduce the number of collisions occurring in the San Francisco Bay, the Strait of Santa Barbara and Los Angeles ports and Long Beach. Ships in this region also pass through three national marine reserves, controlled by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
in which blue and humpback whales and razor-backs feed and gather in packs.Clashes of marine giants with ships happen pretty often, which significantly reduces animals' population and eventually put them into the list of endangered species. In less pessimistic scenario, whales are wounded or poisoned by chemicals spilled from ships' cargo. According to NOAA, as a result of the expansion of three transit corridors at the entrance to San Francisco Bay, the number of collisions will reduce in National Marine Sanctuaries, Cordell Bank and Gulf of Farallons. In accordance with the ІMO, expansion of the corridors will enhance navigational safety in the region,
since ships will follow a route through the waters where fishing is permitted, so that will reduce the number of collisions with commercial fishing vessels ships.Under the proposed changes in shipping routes in the National Marine Sanctuary of Santa Barbara Channel Islands, the total width of the available paths will be narrowed, and the southern corridor will move north to one nautical mile.
According to the NOAA, as a result of this change, ships will not pass through the region, where humpback and blue whales feed.
It is interesting to know that earlier there were designed special iPad applications for sailors to prevent their collisions with whales. Developed by scientists system is called "Whale Alert", it alarms if a vessel approaches to a whale. The application is available for download on the iPad / iPhone. The system records the position of whales along the coast from Newfoundland to Florida, capturing the "talking" animals with radar mounted on ocean buoys, and analyzing satellite data.
It is interesting to know that earlier there were designed special iPad applications for sailors to prevent their collisions with whales. Developed by scientists system is called "Whale Alert", it alarms if a vessel approaches to a whale. The application is available for download on the iPad / iPhone. The system records the position of whales along the coast from Newfoundland to Florida, capturing the "talking" animals with radar mounted on ocean buoys, and analyzing satellite data.
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