![]() ![]() Between 18, the number of globally registered large commercial vessels (>100 gross tonnage) increased from 11 108 to just over 94 000 ( United Nations Conference on Trade Development, 2018 Lloyds Register of Shipping 1992 in Laist et al., 2001). Collisions often result in physical trauma to- or death of the animal (e.g., Lightsey et al., 2006 Byard et al., 2012 Neilson et al., 2012 Towner et al., 2012 Moore et al., 2013) and may cause serious damage to the vessel, while people on board are at risk of injury and mortality ( Neilson et al., 2012 Ritter, 2012).Ĭoncerns about the effects of collisions on marine animals and their populations primarily originate from the extensive and growing utilization of the world's oceans by commercial and recreational vessels. Prioritizing the establishment of a species-specific necropsy protocol and a database for smaller species as well as the identification of high-risk areas for species other than large whales, would be a valuable step toward the mitigation of collisions with smaller species.Ī vessel collision or strike is defined as any impact between any part of a watercraft (most commonly bow or propeller) and a live marine animal ( Peel et al., 2018). The International Whaling Commission database on collisions with large whales provides a good example of this type of database and its potential uses. In addition, creating a ship strike database for smaller species can assist in identifying the species most frequently involved in collisions, identifying high-risk areas, and determining species-specific relationships between vessel speed and lethal injury. Some of these biases can be addressed through the establishment of species-specific necropsy protocols to ensure reliable identification of collision-related injury, particularly blunt force trauma. Collision incidents with smaller species are scarce, likely as a result of reporting biases. However, our review found that at least 75 marine species are affected, including smaller whales, dolphins, porpoises, dugongs, manatees, whale sharks, sharks, seals, sea otters, sea turtles, penguins, and fish. To date, most scientific publications on this topic have focused on the collisions between large vessels and large whales. 3African Earth Observatory Network, Earth Stewardship Science Research Institute, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South AfricaĬoncern about the effects of maritime vessel collisions with marine animals is increasing worldwide.2Endangered Wildlife Trust, Modderfontein, South Africa.1School of Environmental Sciences, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.Schoeman 1 *, Claire Patterson-Abrolat 2 and Stephanie Plön 3
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