On the West Coast, where there was increase in whale ship strike deaths, scientists reported that the risk of such accidents has been growing in the 2000s as the blue whale population shifted northward in the North Pacific. “Reduced ship speeds also increase the residence time of a ship in a given area where whales are active," the council said. “Given those factors, there is some notable uncertainty about how effective reducing ship speeds is in lowering the risk of whale strikes." Changes to international shipping laws would have to go before the International Maritime Organization, which regulates shipping. A spokeswoman for the organization declined to comment on the role of warming seas in increased ship strikes.

Source: International New York Times March 28, 2020 16:07 UTC