WWF Canada is issuing a call for applications for a consultant to review the impacts of shipping on cetaceans, with a focus on the risk of ship strikes and shipping-related underwater noise. The Terms of Reference are pasted here below: Please send your application to Aurelie Cosandey-Godin (acosandeygodin@wwfcanada.org) by or before April 5th, 2019. A candidate will be selected by April 12th, 2019. *Review of monitoring tools and methods used to reduce ship strike and underwater noise impacts on cetaceans* *Terms of Reference* *Time frame of contract: *April 2019- July 2019 *Reports to*: WWF-Canada and WWF Cetacean Initiative (work will also be reviewed by external partners) *Global Context and background* Maritime transport plays a major role in roughly 90% of all world trade, including 60% of movement of the world’s hydrocarbon products. The volume of shipping traffic worldwide increased 300% between 1992 and 2013, a trend that has continued in more recent years. Furthermore, the speed and size of the largest vessels have increased, and marine vessel-based travel has also escalated, with high-speed passenger ferries increasingly used in coastal and other areas. Some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes overlap directly with important whale habitat, resulting in a high risk – or actual incidence – of injury and mortality to whales that are often unable to effectively avoid vessels’ paths due to high speeds or an inability to adequately take evasive action. Furthermore, collectively the global merchant fleet is the biggest contributor to the doubling in background noise levels underwater in every decade over the last fifty years. Underwater noise created by shipping has the potential to disrupt echolocation used by cetaceans in normal navigation and feeding activities, mask important communication between individuals in cetacean groups, cause short- or long-term displacement from areas, and, in extreme cases cause physical damage and/or (temporary) hearing impairment. For these reasons, mitigation of the impacts of shipping has been chosen as one of the three core pillars of WWF’s new Global Cetacean Initiative. Under this initiative, WWF plans to provide conservation stakeholders, as well as the shipping industry and regulatory bodies with the evidence and tools they need to help reduce and mitigate the risk of ship strikes and the impact of shipping-related underwater sound on cetaceans. This consultancy represents one of the first steps in that process. *Canadian context* Canada is home to 42 different whale populations or communities, 18 of which are considered to be at risk under the Species at Risk Act. Proposed industrial developments on Canada’s three coasts – Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific – are set to significantly increase shipping traffic in regions with large aggregations of whales. This is particularly related to the Arctic, where climate change is leading to reduced ice cover and opening new shipping routes. WWF-Canada is working across the country to establish new and refine existing measures to better protect whales at risk. Our current conservation effort focuses on mitigating threats from shipping – ship strikes and underwater noise. WWF-Canada is also supporting research and innovation in the development of new technologies for real-time tracking and monitoring. In order to support our initiatives and partners, WWF-Canada is developing national guidelines with recommendations on best practices in relation to mitigating the impacts of shipping on cetaceans. Results from this consultancy will be included in WWF-Canada’s guidelines and support our future work. *Terms of Reference* The work envisaged under this consultancy will result in *two separate products*: one review with a worldwide focus with recommendations for a global audience of relevant stakeholders, and another which draws from international case studies and experience to offer specific recommendations for mitigation measures to be implemented in Canadian waters. However, the consultant may present the elements required for both of these final products in one comprehensive report. As such, to meet the objectives of both the Global Cetacean Initiative and WWF-Canada, the outcome of this consultancy should be a report including the following elements: - A comprehensive and global literature review of monitoring methods and management measures/mitigation tools to reduce ship strike and underwater noise on cetaceans; - A synthesis of more detailed information from specific case studies, grouped according to their mitigation category (e.g. slow steaming, traffic separation schemes, real-time Apps to alert ships of whale presence, hull/motor modifications to reduce cavitation/noise, etc.), including an evaluation of their cost-effectiveness; - A summary of ongoing management measures/tools used, and lessons learned from high risk areas by ocean basin building on work conducted by the IWC Scientific Committee <https://iwc.int/ship-strikes> (possibly in a tabular or map-based format); - Recommendations for best practices, and identification of knowledge gaps/research needs on a global level; - A more specific set of recommendations for concrete mitigation measures and priority areas/species to be explored and implemented in Canadian waters. *Suggested Structure and Table of Contents * The document should be written in a style that is scientifically robust and well referenced, but still accessible to non-scientists. Numbered references may be used as a way to include citations without breaking the flow of text. While WWF will conduct the final formatting and professional layout of the report, the inclusion of illustrations/diagrams/maps would be helpful (with appropriate permissions and citations where relevant). Executive summary Abbreviation & acronyms Contents 1) Introduction · International agreements and efforts on mitigation · Overview of the impacts of shipping on cetaceans with a focus on ship strikes and underwater noise. i) Map of known High Risk Areas and emerging HRA (this can refer to the International Whaling Commission’s Strategic Plan to Mitigate the impact of Strikes to Cetaceans <https://iwc.int/private/downloads/dr1UJzeCuNpAWs9Xf9caBw/IWC_Strategic_Plan_on_Ship_Strikes_Working_Group_FINAL.pdf>, as well as other workshops and resources provided by the IWC and other sources). ii) Scale of impacts, information gaps and data paucity by ocean basin/species (1) Ship strike (2) Underwater noise 2) Monitoring and Mitigation measures · Review of management measures/tools and their effectiveness, including emerging technologies for real-time data in reducing the impacts of ship strikes and underwater noise on cetaceans. Synthesize findings in a summary table. This can build on a table drafted by the International Whaling Commission <https://iwc.int/document_3616.download> and work undertaken by the IMO on underwater noise (to be provided to the consultant by WWF) . Measures should be classified as area-based measures (e.g. slow-steaming zones, re-routing of shipping lanes) , ship-based measures (e.g. real-time reporting schemes, hull or vessel modifications), or a combination of the two. 3) Ongoing efforts - Case studies demonstrating mitigation measures that have been trialed around the world. · Global Case studies: A minimum of 4 case studies that describe in detail the development, implementation and evaluation of different mitigation methods that have been used to mitigate the impacts of shipping on whales. These should give the reader insight into the stakeholders involved, decision making processes and lessons learned. At least two should address ship strikes, and at least one should address noise reduction, and one may look at synergistic benefits (e.g. reductions in speed resulting in noise reductions, as well as reductions in green house gases). Ideally these will represent different ocean basins, different target species, vessel types and different types of mitigation measures. · Canadian Case studies: These should include: · The Gulf of St-Lawrence and North Atlantic Right Whale; · The Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program, British-Columbia and Southern Resident Killer Whale; · The Saguenay St-Lawrence marine park, Quebec and the St-Lawrence Beluga; · The Mary River area of Baffin Island, Nunavut and Narwhals 4) Lessons learnt, recommendations/best practices: · Conclusions, based on current knowledge, about which methods show the most promise, and are worth investing in. · Summary of best practice for ship strike and noise reduction. · Knowledge gaps and requirements for further research (include specific tools that need to be tested, and in what context); · Recommendations for actions that could be undertaken by governments and IGOs to reduce the risk of ship strikes and impacts of shipping related underwater noise; · Canada-specific recommendations: i) A summary of the strengths and weaknesses of Canada’s current approach to mitigating the impacts of shipping (ship strike and underwater noise) on whales; ii) A list of priority areas and species for future work in Canada; iii) Specific recommendations for additional management and mitigation measures to be implemented in Canada. References Appendixes Acknowledgements *Consultant profile and competencies * The following experience and competencies are essential for the role: - A background in cetacean conservation and familiarity with the shipping industry and its impacts - Strong English writing skills. - Ability to read and understand French. - Self-motivated and able to take initiative to find resources and expertise where required. *Budget * A maximum of 15,000 USD is available for this phase of the project. *Reporting and key contact* - Technical key contacts: Gianna Minton (WWF Global Cetacean Initiative), Thea Jacob (WWF France), Melanie Lancaster (WWF Arctic Programme), Georgina Saad (WWF Mexico), Aurelie Cosandey-Godin (WWF-Canada) - Reporting on deliverables to Aurelie Cosandey-Godin (WWF-Canada) *Instructions for submitting an application: * Please send a letter expressing your interest and demonstrating your qualifications in relation to the Terms of Reference above. Your letter and application should include: - A brief expression of interest; - A summary of your most relevant qualifications; - A proposed budget and timeline, with a breakdown of the number of days expected to be spent on each stage of the project and the rate charged; - An up-to-date CV; - At least 2 examples of relevant work that you have completed in the past. *Please send your application to Aurelie Cosandey-Godin (* *acosandeygodin@wwfcanada.org* <acosandeygodin@wwfcanada.org>*) by or before April 5th, 2019. A candidate will be selected by April 12th, 2019.* -- Gianna Minton Mobile +31 (0) 638325055