Vessel Strike Risk to Rice's Whale in the Gulf of Mexico: Review of Previous Methodologies, Information Gaps, and Recommendations for Future Efforts to Predict Strike Risks

In the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf), the endangered Rice's whales (Balaenoptera ricei) are especially susceptible to vessel strike due to their surface behaviors, particularly at night, when individuals may spend up to 88 percent of their time at the surface. This behavior puts Rice’s whales within the draft of large vessels (i.e., cargo, tanker), increasing strike risk. High volumes of vessel traffic exist in the Gulf, driven by its role as a major hub for international and national shipping, oil and gas, and commercial fishing activities. An assessment of literature, reports, and data sets that present methods and results related to vessel strike risk for the Rice's whale was conducted to inform risk assessments and to provide recommendations on future vessel strike risk analyses.

USD: $68,721

2024-04-16 → 2024-08-15