The issue
of collision between large ships and
large cetaceans is global, complex, and many species
are susceptible to it.
Thus, a great variety of management measures and
technological tools was
developed around the world in order to limit that
risk. This report intends to
provide an overview of the different management
measures implemented to reduce
collisions between large cetaceans and commercial
ships2 and an evaluation of these
measures
when possible. First, an inventory and evaluation of
the technological tools
are presented, followed by a presentation of the
different management measures
implemented around the world to reduce the risk of
ship strikes. Future
measures are presented at the end of this report.
However, none is the ideal
solution to reduce ship strikes. The different systems
do not always meet the
technical, economic (e.g. speed limitations,
rerouting) and ergonomic (e.g.
night vision systems) requirements of ships and
are not always respectful
from an ecological point of view (e.g. ADDs,
sonar). Some are
well-adapted to the area they were developed but can
hardly be applied
everywhere (e.g. WADBS, WACS, permit system).
The only measure
applicable everywhere in the world is the training and
awareness raising
efforts for concerned stakeholders. I would allow,
among others, to reduce the
lack of cooperation with, knowledge on or compliance
with certain measures.
Therefore, a combination of several measures
(voluntary or mandatory, in the
short term and the long term) must be adopted in
collaboration with
stakeholders and given the environmental (e.g. ecology,
ethology and
distribution of the targeted species) and economic (e.g.
features and
requirements of local shipping traffic)
characteristics of the concerned
region. Beforehand, some measures (e.g. speed
limitations) would require
a technical and socio-economic feasibility study.