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Save Whales from Deadly Ship Strikes

Save Whales from Deadly Ship Strikes

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.

As the coronavirus tragedy continues to unfold across the world, there are a few silver linings. Reduced business has had a positive effect on wild animals and the natural environment. Reduced shipping traffic has shut down the noisy highways dolphins and whales are forced to live in, allowing them to lead more natural lives. We must protect this vital peace and quiet as human lives return to normal. Urge the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to protect the peace: strengthen noise pollution regulations to help dolphins, whales, and all marine life!

Whales, dolphins and other animals have been forced to live on increasingly noisy and more deadly ocean highways for years. Cargo ships race across the oceans and some animals can’t get out the way fast enough. Many whales suffer ship strikes and die as a result. 

But as the world slowed down, so too did shipping traffic, which normally tends to dominate the soundscape of the world’s oceans. Now, the oceans are quieter and safer for whales and dolphins than they have been in decades. 

This is great news for dolphins and whales, since sound pollution prevents their ability to communicate, particularly the long-distance communications used largely by whales. Essentially, noise pollution plunges whales into social isolation. 

Cetaceans live in acoustic worlds and are primarily reliant upon hearing. They deserve the right to live in their natural habitat in peace, rather than isolated confusion caused by deafening ships.

Scientists are scrambling to study this once-in-a-lifetime event caused by the pandemic, with some anticipating that whales may now have the opportunity to share more frequent, and complex, conversations. 

Whales should always have the opportunity to communicate. We urgently need stricter regulations on shipping and boating within all U.S. territorial waters to make this peaceful waters a permanent reality for ocean-dwelling animals! 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) currently has some speed restrictions for larger vessels in certain locations. The animals need these regulations to be applied throughout all U.S. exclusive economic zones. Dolphins and whales also need to stop being harassed and harmed by smaller vessels which should leave cetaceans in peace by maintaining a distance of at least 500 feet away at all times. 


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