BIMCO: Where are the whales? Useful tools you can use to help protect them

Whales are migrating into critical habitats, prompting authorities to implement seasonal and dynamic measures that impact how ships should navigate certain areas. BIMCO advises checking whether any ships are traveling through areas with mandatory and voluntary whale strike reduction measures and utilizing digital tools for more efficient navigation in whale-sensitive regions.

These measures include speed reductions, routing recommendations, reporting requirements, and areas to avoid. In Canada, extensive protection measures for North Atlantic right whales remain in force in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The voluntary Cabot Strait slowdown has resumed until November 15, and the Shediac Valley restricted area is no longer in effect.

On Canada's western coast, a voluntary ship slowdown project aims to protect southern resident killer whales, requiring ships to reduce speeds to 10 knots until January 31. The Mediterranean Sea is another area of concern, hosting important populations of fin whales and sperm whales. Concerns have arisen regarding the approval of very high-speed passenger services within protected areas.

Digital tools such as Whale Guardians and Whale Alert can aid in reducing whale strikes. Whale Guardians focuses on proactive voyage planning by integrating globally acknowledged whale routing measures into a ship's route planning, helping shipping companies avoid whale-sensitive areas and reduce the risk of last-minute avoidance maneuvers.

Whale Alert, available as a desktop and mobile application, provides near real-time information on whale sightings and detections, ship speed restrictions, and dynamic risk levels, helping crew members make informed decisions to ensure compliance with local requirements.