Although whales are now broadly protected with the establishment of the International Whaling Commission (1946) and the commercial whaling moratorium (1986), most large whale species are still recovering from near extinction during the age of whaling, particularly from the 1800s to the 1960s. Some whale species are experiencing habitat deterioration and all whales are being affected by climate change. At the same time, our global economy has industrialized and ocean use has intensified, and whales face increasing risks from human activity, including entanglement in fishing gear and marine debris, as well as vessel strikes.
Mitigating threats to whales from ocean-based projects and supporting their conservation are important to CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. (CSA). CSA has several marine mammal biologists on staff who provide their expertise to support these projects. CSA’s marine mammal biologists bring more than 55 years of combined field experience. This expertise supports the analysis of potential impacts to whales and the development of mitigation strategies across a wide range of projects, from port construction and offshore energy development to telecommunications projects that span ocean basins.
Many projects that CSA supports involve vessel operations, from small support vessels to large offshore construction and transport vessels. “Vessel strike is a major threat to marine mammals,” notes Tara Stevens, CSA’s Protected Species Risk Assessment Lead. “Our work focuses on understanding when and where vessels are most likely to encounter whales and applying that information to develop practical tools that help reduce collision risk. By combining risk assessment with emerging detection and avoidance technologies, we support safer operations while helping protect whales in busy marine environments.”
“Many of the projects CSA works on include acoustic assessments, which are used to analyze and characterize the sound generated by project activities and the associated risk of impacts to whales,” explains Kayla Hartigan, a CSA Marine Bioacoustician. “Underwater sound is extremely important to whales as they rely on it for communication, foraging, and predator detection. Understanding the type and level of sound produced by a project is therefore an essential step. Acoustic assessments help us identify which sound-producing activities pose the greatest risk to whales, as well as the most effective mitigation measures to minimize potential impacts and protect whale populations.”
CSA is committed to providing this depth of technical expertise in support of responsible ocean development and marine conservation.