Rerouting ships to avoid killing whale sharks has little cost, study finds
Redirecting shipping traffic to avoid collisions with whale sharks has very little impact on fuel use, according to new research led by the University of Southampton published in Royal Society Open Science.
Adjusting shipping routes to prevent whale shark collisions comes at minimal extra fuel costs, according to recent research from the University of Southampton. The study, published in Royal Society Open Science, found that rerouting container ships and oil tankers around whale shark habitats used no more than 1% more fuel for long voyages, and slightly less for shorter routes.
For long crossings, rerouting alone required only a 1% increase in fuel use, while for shorter crossings, slowing ships down was more fuel-efficient. The researchers hope this demonstrates that incorporating species-specific habitat data into shipping navigation software can support conservation efforts without significantly increasing costs.
They suggest that the concept could be scaled up with better data, dynamic forecasting, and integration with existing technology. By embedding biodiversity into voyage optimization, the maritime sector could help reduce ship strikes while maintaining efficient shipping and supporting global efforts to protect marine life.
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