Atlantic Right Whale Population

Abstract: Human impact has lead Eubalaena glacialis, or the North Atlantic Right Whale, population to be classified as critically endangered. Habitat fragmentation, fishing entanglement, whaling, and shipping are of the main direct human impacts that have affected the North Atlantic Right Whale population. This leads to a decrease in population because of mortality, injury, or other health impacts. Despite conservation efforts the North Atlantic Right Whale population has not seen much growth with estimates of 450 to 500 individuals left in the world’s oceans. Results from multiple studies have shown that the need for continued species conservation efforts are necessary. Wildlife management are continuing efforts by designing a recovery plan for and defining and protecting critical habitat of these marine mammals. However, the migratory pattern of North Atlantic Right Whales poses a great problem to the conservation of their species since human impact is inevitable with shipping routes. Marine spatial planning studies have been made with suggestions to place wind farms in the Right whale migration corridors to reduce effects of shipping on the population. …show more content…
The strategic placement of wind turbines could increase foraging success for whales as well as help alleviate the shipping and entanglement problem (Petruny & Smith, 2014). With this it would also limit exposure to noise without increasing risk of collisions after construction. Shipping lanes could be moved more offshore away from the Right Whale migratory routes. The nation’s first commercial lease for offshore wind was issued late 2014 to be built near Horseshow Shoal in Nantucket Sound, Massachusetts (Petruny & Smith, 2014). This arrangement would cost the shipping industry a fraction of the savings the wind energy would bring as well as alleviate shipping and entanglement