Assessing a long-standing conservation program: Mariner's perspectives on the north atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis, mandatory ship reporting system

Abstract

Measures established to protect living marine resources, including those for endangered marine species, are only infrequently evaluated. In this paper we report findings of an online survey designed to solicit the views of maritime industries about a long-standing endangered large whale conservation program: the Mandatory Ship Reporting (MSR) system. The MSR was established in 1999 to aid in reducing the threat of vessel collisions with the highly depleted North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis. Under MSR provisions, vessels >300 gross tons are required to report their location, speed, and destination when entering two key right whale aggregation areas. In return, reporting ships are sent an automated message about right whale vulnerability to ship collisions. The survey was intended to obtain views about the extent to which vessel operations were interrupted by opinthe reporting requirement; how mariners utilize, if at all, information provided in the return message; whether vessel operations were modified in response to guidance provided; and the overall importance and effectiveness of the reporting systems in helping ships avoid right whale interactions. A total of 119 mariners with broad representation of vessel types and decades of experience at sea took part in the survey; 56 of these indicated they had entered one of the MSR areas at least once. Most (ca. 70%) indicated that they comply with the reporting requirement, distribute information on right whales and ship strikes to crew members, that they were more alert about avoiding/watching for right whales, and that the ships operation may change to avoid an interaction. Of the survey-takers who had entered the system, about half indicated the MSR system is useful for educat educating captains and crew about right whales and important for right whale conservation, but only about a quarter indicated that it is useful in helping ships avoid right whales. About 40% said it is an unnecessary requirement for ships. We conclude that as an outreach tool and a means to provide information directly to domestic and international mariners entering right whale habitat for over 15 years (thus, tens of thousands of ships entering these waters have received the message), the MSR almost certainly has been beneficial in educating mariners about the issue of ship strike and in providing guidance on avoiding ship strikes. Views refl ected in the survey suggest that, at least from the mariners' perspective, the MSR program has provided positive conservation value; however, not all mariners took specific strike avoidance action after having received the message.