A study from the University of Southampton and the Marine Biological Association reveals that global warming could lead to a dramatic increase in ship strikes on whale sharks, predicting a 15,000-fold rise in encounters with vessels by 2100. The research indicates that habitat loss and changes due to elevated ocean temperatures will lead to whale sharks entering busier shipping lanes, thereby increasing their vulnerability. These findings stress the importance of climate change mitigation for the protection and management of endangered marine species such as whale sharks.
A recent study published in Nature Climate Change indicates that global warming may significantly heighten the risk of whale sharks being struck by large vessels. Conducted by researchers from the University of Southampton and the Marine Biological Association (MBA), the study suggests that rising ocean temperatures will drive whale sharks into new habitats that intersect with busy shipping lanes. Projections indicate that the likelihood of whale sharks coexisting with large ships could increase by as much as 15,000 times by the end of the century compared to current levels. Dr. Freya Womersley, the lead author, highlighted that extreme scenarios involving high emissions could lead to severe habitat losses, particularly in Asia, as well as a rise in encounters with shipping traffic. Though whale sharks are capable of adapting to changing temperatures, they remain vulnerable to ship strikes, which can result in grave injuries or fatalities. By utilizing satellite-tracking data and global climate models, the researchers assessed how whale sharks’ distributions might alter under three different climate scenarios, finding potential core habitat losses of over 50% by 2100 under a high-emissions pathway. Encouragingly, a sustainable development pathway aligned with the 2°C global warming target could result in some areas gaining core habitats, especially within Europe. Moreover, the study underscores the urgency of mitigating climate change to alleviate its impacts on marine species and their habitats, as habitat shifts are likely to overlap more with shipping routes in a warming world. Overall, ship co-occurrence is predicted to rise under all future climate scenarios, presenting a pressing issue for marine conservation efforts.
The study addresses the potential impacts of climate change on whale sharks, the largest fish species in the world, which are already classified as endangered. Given their high mobility and sensitivity to water temperature changes, whale sharks are predicted to migrate into new habitats as ocean temperatures rise. These shifts will increasingly overlap with major shipping routes, elevating the risk of ship strikes, which have been identified as a significant threat to these marine giants. Understanding the relationship between climate change, whale shark distributions, and shipping traffic is critical for effective management and conservation of the species moving forward.
The findings from this research emphasize the interconnectedness of climate change, marine life management, and human activities such as shipping. The potential for increased encounters between whale sharks and large vessels under various climate scenarios necessitates urgent attention to mitigate these threats, particularly by seeking ways to reduce global warming and protect vulnerable species within their newfound habitats. Addressing these multifaceted challenges is crucial for the conservation of whale sharks in a changing ocean environment.
Original Source: www.eurekalert.org
