In recent times, initiatives to safeguard the dwindling population of North Atlantic right whales have involved implementing speed restrictions for ships in areas where whales are known to frequent to prevent collisions and advocating for the use of ropeless fishing gear to reduce entanglements. However, shifts in the whales’ distribution have posed challenges to these efforts.
To address this, researchers from the University of Maine and the New England Aquarium are collaborating to enhance their modeling capabilities in predicting the whales’ whereabouts. Camille Ross, an associate research scientist at the New England Aquarium, emphasized the difficulty of continuous human observation due to the whales’ extensive ocean range, highlighting the significance of predictive models in filling observational gaps.
Ross spearheaded a study titled “Incorporating prey fields into North Atlantic right whale density surface models,” published in the latest issue of the research journal Endangered Species Research. According to the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, there are approximately 370 remaining North Atlantic right whales globally, with only around 70 reproductive-age females.
The whales’ movements to adapt to changing ocean conditions necessitate predictive models that account for new feeding habitats. By focusing on the zooplankton that whales feed on, particularly calanoid copepods, the research team utilized past studies to estimate the whales’ daily prey consumption requirements for predicting their travel patterns based on adequate food sources.
Ross highlighted the value of long-standing zooplankton sampling programs in aiding their studies and the employment of statistical algorithms to supplement gaps in existing data. The continual refinement of models through additional studies is crucial for accurately predicting whale locations and implementing conservation measures effectively.
Matt Abbott, the Fundy Baykeeper and Marine Program Director at the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, underscored the importance of research collaborations in informing decision-makers to mitigate human impacts on right whales. Abbott emphasized the critical role of such studies in protecting the vulnerable whale population, particularly breeding females.
Over the past 15 years, sightings of right whales in the Bay of Fundy have become increasingly rare, indicating a shift in their habitat preferences due to ecological changes. Abbott emphasized the necessity of proactive conservation measures to safeguard the remaining North Atlantic right whales from further threats.