Ship strike

A collision between a vessel and a marine animal that can injure or kill the animal, damage the vessel, or both.

Vessel speed: The rate at which a vessel travels through water or over the ground. Higher speeds can reduce an animal’s chance of avoiding an approaching vessel and increase collision severity.
North Atlantic right whale: A critically endangered baleen whale living in the western North Atlantic. Ship strikes are a major human-caused source of injury and death for this population.
Vessel speed reduction: A measure that limits or encourages lower vessel speeds in designated waters or periods. Lower speeds can reduce collision risk and the severity of injuries when impacts occur.
Blue whale: The largest living animal, a baleen whale found in oceans worldwide. Blue whales can be difficult to detect from vessels and are vulnerable to collisions along busy routes.
Fishing gear entanglement: The trapping or constriction of marine animals in fishing lines, nets, or other gear. Entanglement injures and kills marine animals without requiring a vessel collision.
Underwater noise: Sound that propagates through water from natural sources and human activities. Vessel noise can affect how marine animals detect, respond to, or avoid approaching ships.
Whale mortality: The deaths of whales from natural causes and human activities. Ship strikes are one cause of whale mortality, alongside entanglement, disease, and other threats.
Shipping lane: A route designated or commonly used for commercial vessel traffic. Moving lanes away from animal concentrations can reduce overlap between ships and wildlife.
Humpback whale: A large baleen whale known for long migrations and complex songs. Humpbacks encounter vessel traffic in coastal feeding and breeding areas.
Bycatch: The unintended capture of animals during fishing operations. Bycatch is a fisheries threat, distinct from impacts caused by moving vessels.

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