Dear MARMAM community,
My co-authors and I are pleased to share our new article in Marine Policy:
L. Fouda, A. Mayette, K.L. Indeck, K.T.A. Davies, How ocean-going vessels respond to mandatory dynamic speed restriction zones aimed at protecting whales, Marine Policy 193 (2026) 107224.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2026.107224.
To date, there has been no close examination of vessel behaviour in response to the implementation of slowdowns in dynamic management zones, other than monitoring compliance with speed limits (which is > 99%). In this paper, we set out to determine whether
vessels adjusted their speed in areas bordering such conservation measures to compensate for lost transit time, which may inadvertently increase the threat of lethal ship strikes to whales. We examined vessel speeds in the Dynamic Shipping Zones (DSZs) in
the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, which are implemented to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whales (NARW) from vessel strikes.
Vessels in zones contiguous to DSZs with active slowdowns travelled ≤ 0.5 knots slower than when no DSZs were active, regardless of the number of contiguous DSZs under speed restrictions. A very small number (3.81%) of vessels treated the DSZs as static areas,
travelling < 10 knots throughout the NARW season. Ultimately, although vessels occasionally exceeded the 10-knot speed limit, the average excess speed was small, and the management measures were successful in enforcing reduced vessel speeds with only minor
compensations.
We hope this paper will be of interest to readers because it examines in detail the potential unintended consequences arising from conservation measures enacted to allow the coexistence of the international shipping industry and marine species, with reduced
risk of morbidity and mortality from ship strike.
The article is available here:
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out!
Best regards,
Leila Fouda
Leila Fouda, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Murphy Family Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow •
Biological Sciences
Mobile: 506 271-8932
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UNB stands on the unsurrendered and unceded traditional Wolastoqey land as established in a series of Peace and Friendship Treaties.
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