Protecting Humpback Whales in Panama
Two migrations of humpbacks whales occur in Panama annually, and the presence of these remarkable mammals draws spectators from all over the world. The larger of the two migrations comes from the Southern hemisphere. This migration occurs between June and November. A smaller migration, coming from the Northern hemisphere, arrives in February. This year, the Southern hemisphere humpback migration has arrived almost 3 weeks early to mate and calf in the warm shallow waters in Gulf of Panama.
With over 1000 humpbacks wintering in the heavily trafficked area surrounding the southern end of the Panama Canal, interactions between the whales and ships are not uncommon. In recent years, several studies have concluded that reducing interactions between whales and commercial vessels is vital for greater protection of whales. In an article by Marine Mammal Science, it was revealed that, “ship strikes of whales may be more common that previously suspected and, in some cases, may constitute significant conservation issues.” (Marine Mammal Science, 2001) This spring Panama made a large stride towards mitigating whale–ship interactions in the Gulf of Panama.
On May 23, 2014, the International Maritime Organization unanimously approved the implementation of four Traffic Separation Schemes (TSSs), for ships entering and exiting the Panama Canal and surrounding ports. The goal of the TSSs is to minimize the overlay of shipping routes and humpback whale migration patterns. By reducing the speed of ships and limiting their course when traveling near the Gulf of Panama, the recently approved plan is expected to have several benefits. A study by Smithsonian marine ecologist Hector Guzman suggests that not only will TSSs minimize incidents between humpback whales and commercial vessels drastically; they will also limit migration interactions with coastal fishing boats. An added benefit of the TSSs is that they will reduce maritime accidents, such as oil spills, that could lead to the degradation of Panama’s protected coastal areas, wildlife sanctuaries and UNESCO world heritage sites.
Almost 17,000 vessels traverse the Gulf annually, and with the canal expansion underway it is likely this number will increase. As Panama continues to develop it is vital that legislation keep pace and protect the country’s biodiversity. With research from the Smithsonian, conservationists have been armed with the knowledge they need to create a clear conservation strategy for humpbacks and their breeding grounds.
By tagging whales with satellite transmitters Guzman and colleagues at the Smithsonian have been able to follow the humpbacks over their last two southern migrations. Their research suggests that the Pacific entrance of the Canal is an important breeding area for humpbacks whales and several other species of cetaceans.
By implementing TSSs over their 4-month mating season throughout the Gulf area, Guzman estimates collisions between ships and whales could be reduced by 93 percent, and others interactions reduced by 95 percent. The benefit of implanting the plan is clear, however it will take time to put the policy into effect, says Guzman.
TSSs will be implemented in Panama over the next six months, after which commercial vessels will be required to comply with the new regulations. While TSSs commence in Panama, the effort to protect humpbacks globally continues. While we celebrate his success in Panama, Guzman is still working to develop a corridor for humpback whales along the entire coast of Central and South America.
Update: Last week while whale watching in the Pearl Islands we had the opportunity to speak with Anne Gordon of Whale Watching Panama. We asked Anne for her thoughts on the implementation on TSSs. Anne told us she had some hesitations about the plan. She explained that by implementing one path we could create a “super highway” for commercial vessels resulting a sound barrier that may have negative effects on marine life
