Assessing the risk of lethal ship strikes to humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) and fin (Balaenoptera physalus) whales off the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada / Linda M. Nichol ... [et al.].: Fs70-5/2017-007E-PDF

“Vessel strikes are a source of mortality and injury for baleen whales that can have population-level impacts. Spatial analysis of whale distributions and marine traffic provide a valuable approach for identifying zones of high relative collision risk. We conducted 34 systematic aerial surveys (2012-2015) in fall and winter to estimate humpback and fin whale densities off the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. This region includes approaches to major shipping lanes in Juan de Fuca Strait, a gateway to the ports of southern British Columbia and Puget Sound, Washington. Our study is the first to assess ship strike risk to large whales off the west coast of Vancouver Island. The estimates of strike probability and risk of lethal strike we present here are minimum estimates, as our models did not account for species specific vulnerabilities and future projections did not account for whale population growth or anticipated increases in ship size"--Abstract, p. v.

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