Approximately 300,000 whales and dolphins die annually due to entanglement in various fishing gears according to the International Whaling Commission. Specifically in the Gulf of Maine, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission found that approximately 3 million licensed lobster traps are equipped with over 400,000 vertical lines, all of which pose a threat of entanglement to traveling marine organisms. The Gulf of Maine is home to four large whale species, including finback, humpback, minke, and the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, who typically migrate to these productive waters to feed in the summer months. In particular, upwelling at Jeffrey’s Ledge, which lies approximately 20 miles offshore, attracts these large whale species for feeding. Currently, over 72% of right whales, 71% of humpback whales, 50% of finback whales, and 50% of minke whales have faced entanglement, many of which have occurred in New England waters according to NOAA Fisheries.
Entangled and stressed whales are in dire need of quick assistance, as they are at risk of drowning, starvation, and laceration infection. Furthermore, if the whales are lost, a study by Oceana found that it takes an average of 6 months for a large entangled whale to slowly die. Whale populations are extremely important to the biodiversity and balance of the marine ecosystem. Whales supply nutrients to phytoplankton via feces, which supply over half of the world’s oxygen, and supply nutrients to benthic communities through whale fall after their natural death.
Furthermore, the loss of whales not only negatively impacts the marine organisms in the community but also the fishing industry. Whales commonly destroy widely used gill nets and lobster pot systems during entanglement; whenever a whale becomes entangled, the owner of the fishing gear suffers significant financial losses. A study by the New Economics Foundation found that fishermen can lose between $240-$2000 due to a single entanglement event. Whales are also beloved by the community. Whale watching is a popular tourist activity, which generates $2 billion in yearly revenue and creates jobs in the local communities, reported by The Animal Welfare Institute.
The Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation has a clear mission that aims towards “thriving marine life in the Gulf of Maine with citizens committed to environmental stewardship”. Our current involvement with whales includes conducting population and behavioral research, while offering community whale watching. We are called as an organization to further develop our participation in whale conservation by focussing our efforts to combating whale entanglement. This issue continues to increase while simultaneously destroying whale species abundance. As we conduct our organizational duties in the Gulf of Maine, we propose “The Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation Whale Entanglement Rescue Team” be based in the Southern Gulf of Maine, with an emphasis on Jeffreys Ledge. We recognize that the root issue of entangled whales is due to the current design of fishing gear but our goal is more immediate: to free the helpless whales who are trapped in our lethal fishing systems. “The Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation Whale Entanglement Rescue Team” has the potential for continuous expansion and collaboration with The Center for Coastal Studies, Maine’s widely established whale rescue team. The proposed project has the future to grow the geographical response area, increasing the quantity of whales saved, and diversifying the species rescued.
Statement of Need (FINAL)
Over 300,000 whales and dolphins die annually due to entanglement in various fishing gears according to the International Whaling Commission. In the Gulf of Maine, lobstering is supported by roughly 3 million lobster traps which are equipped with over 400,000 vertical lines, reported by The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. These obstacles pose a threat to whale species as they are unable to echolocate the narrow and foreign fishing lines, resulting in collision and entanglement. The Gulf of Maine is home to multiple large whale species who migrate through the area, including the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. Whales are particularly drawn to the supply of nutrients at Jeffreys Ledge, located 20 miles offshore of Maine. Over 50% of Maine’s native whale species have faced entanglement according to NOAA Fisheries.
Entangled whales are at risk of drowning, starvation, and laceration infection. If left in these conditions, a study by Oceana found that it takes ~6 months for large entangled whales to slowly and painfully die. The loss of whales brings negative impacts to the biodiversity and balance of the marine ecosystem, as they supply essential nutrients for phytoplankton and benthic communities. Furthermore, whale entanglement deaths not only damage the marine ecosystem but the fishing industry as well. Whales commonly destroy widely used gill nets and lobster pot systems during entanglement. Fishermen can lose between $240-$2,000 due to a single entanglement event, as calculated by the New Economics Foundation. Local communities rely on fishing as part of their livelihoods, as it has been intertwined with the New England culture for over 400 years. Within Maine’s communities, the presence of whales also increases tourism, providing local jobs and stimulating the local economy, especially in Southern Maine communities off of Jeffreys Ledge. Whale watching generates $2 billion in yearly revenue, as reported by The Animal Welfare Institute. Whales within the Gulf of Maine are just as much a part of the local communities as the people, and the loss of gentle giants would create a hole that is impossible to fill.
Our non-profit organization, The Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation (B.O.S.M.C.), aims towards thriving marine life in the Gulf of Maine, with a keen focus on the whales inhabiting Jeffreys Ledge. We currently offer educational whale watching tours while simultaneously conducting population and behavioral research. Navigating our efforts towards combating whale entanglement will further our part in whale conservation. We propose The B.O.S.C.M. Whale Entanglement Rescue Team made up of trained staff with the proper equipment to safely release an entangled whale. Our team will respond to whales in the Southern Gulf of Maine, including the familiar Jeffreys Ledge. We recognize that the root issue of whale entanglement is the current design of fishing gear but our goal is more immediate: to free the helpless whales who are trapped in our lethal fishing systems. The B.O.S.C.M. Whale Entanglement Rescue Team has the potential future expansion, with the ultimate goal of saving as many whales as possible from an untimely death.
