THE IMPACT OF HUMAN

INTERACTION ON
WHALES
Figure 1

TAYLOR WEATHERLY

1
Contents

Abstract............................................................................................................................................3

The Drawbacks of Whale-Watching...............................................................................................3

Boats Collisions with Whales...................................................................................................3

Secondary Effects of Motorized Vessels..................................................................................4

Preventative Measures: Safe Whale-Watching...............................................................................5

Benefits of Whale-Watching Regulations.......................................................................................7

Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8

References........................................................................................................................................9

Abstract............................................................................................................................................3

The Impact of Human Interaction on Whales..................................................................................3

Context of Whales in History...................................................................................................3

Origins of Whales.....................................................................................................................3

Humanity’s Encounter with Whales.........................................................................................4

Hunting Whales........................................................................................................................5

Preventing Further Harm to Whales............................................................................................5

Fear to Fascination...................................................................................................................5

The Dangers of Whale Watching.............................................................................................8

References......................................................................................................................................10

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Figures
Figure 1Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

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Abstract

Whales are modernly known for their tremendous size and habit of breaching; most would agree

that they are rather docile animals. However, humans have not always thought this way. For

thousands of years, we feared mighty creatures of open waters, believing them to be dangerous.

It was not until the 1900s that literature, science, research, and protest lifted the negative stigma

from whales. Now, with manyMany whale species, such as right whales, are endangered and at

risk of environmental collapse., Ssociety has shiftedcontinues attempting motives in an attempt

to amend centuries of harm committed against marine life such as cetaceans like whales.

However, when humans embark on open waters and breeding cites to get a glimpse of these

docile . creatures and educate passengers on their behaviors, the whales are put into unnecessary

danger. Aside from commonly confronted issues such as plastic, global warming, and netting

entanglement, there remains an unusual threat towards whales: boats. Cetaceans such as

whalesWhales are at a heightened higher risk of boat-related injury and death than other

cetaceans because they of their are large in size and need to surface for air. Whale watching

companies are especially responsible for preventing harm to whale species. Preventative

measures that whale watching companies should enact are avoiding feeding and breeding sites,

warning passengers not to touch wildlife, and equipping boats with proper sensory technology.

4
The Drawbacks of Whale-WatchingThe Impact of Human
Interaction on Whales
Boats Collisions with Whales

Motorized vessels have been recognized as threats to whales’ livelihoods, impacting fin whales

at the highest rate (Laist, et. al). Prior to the 1950s, the occurrence of a boat striking a whale was

a rare occurrence; the invention of faster boat motors propelled occurrences of whale collision

skyward (Laist, et. al). It has been reported that of the 25 documented dead endangered right

whales (1970-1989) off North American coasts, 5 were discovered with wound marks consistent

with boat collision injuries (Laist, et. al). Within a 30-year period, ship strikes resulting in

mortality for right whales increased by 12% making boat collisions a leading cause in injury and

fatality amongst endangered whale populations (Laist, et. al).

5
Figure 2

Secondary Effects of Motorized VesselsContext of Whales in History

Origins of Whales
Whales are Earth’s largest animal according to historical record and modern science, but
these creatures started off much differently than we know them today. The first whales
were amphibious quadrupeds and can be dated back to approximately 47 million BC.
Upon their descent into open waters over the next 12 million years, whale species evolved,
eventually losing their legs and developing either baleen or teeth for feeding (Roman 210).

Humanity’s Encounter with Whales

6
 Whales greatly p do not appear on the terrestrial timeline until
approximately 6 million years ago (MYA); the first recorded encounters
between whales and humans are the Neolithic petroglyphs (Roman 27).
There have also been numerous carvings of whales discovered in caves
dating back thousands of years BC (Roman 27). These depictions give us
insight into the early history of human and whale interactions which mostly
comprised of hunting scenes.

With the steady rise in whale tourism, whales are being more frequently exposed to new

unintentional dangers. Whale’s feeding and breeding locations are seen as hot spots for tourism

because whales’ presence is easily predictable due to their natural migratory patterns. However,

the presence of boats may additionally be affecting swimming speed and patterns, duration of

dives, frequency of surfacing, and potentially even population size (The Benefits and Impacts of

Whale Watching).

Hunting Whales
Over centuries of human adaptation, people have looked longingly into open waters and

Figure 2 wandered what wallowed beneath the waves. Much recorded folklore includes tales of great

sea monsters: Leviathan, Kraken, Calypso, and Cetus to name a few. Over time, these tales made

their way into various novels and literature such as the Biblical tale of Jonah and the Whale,

Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and Distressing Shipwreck of the Whale-ship, and Moby

Dick. These stories demonstrate aggressive interpretations of whale behavior (despite their

intrinsically peaceful nature) as a means of justifying the actions of the whaling industry

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(Dowling). Whales are depicted as the villains, swallowing people and attacking boats, so

whalers gained more support for hunting these marine mammals.

However, as people embarked into the oceans during times of the civil war, hoping to hunt the

“evil whale” and obtain oil, mortality rose amongst both men and whales. Whilst men sought out

whales for oil harvesting, they blamed whales for causing injury and death during the fight

(Dowling). Until the recent rise of marine conservation in the mid 20th century, society used this

paradox to further justify the violence that whalers committed against whales.

Preventing Further Harm to Whales

Fear to Fascination
With the rise in technology, marine biologists’ research was better equipped to produce

groundbreaking underwater photography and videography. This media, which showcased whales

in their natural environment, led to a societal shift in perspective on whale behavior.One study

8
on whale behavior in the presence of marine vessels, conducted by Alicia R. Schuler and

accompanying researches in 2019, found that not only did the presence of boats increase whales’

respiratory rates, it also caused surface active humpbacks to begin traveling. It may be concluded

that the presence of marine vessel causes whales to experience physical symptoms of anxiety.

While it is uncertain what these behavioral changes could mean in the long term, observational

research shows that whales, especially humpbacks, experience heightened levels of stress and

display attempts to evade approaching boats (Schuler, et. al). If marine vessels become a regular

interaction with whales, prolonged anxiety may lead to health complications. The public was no

longer being informed by folklore or mythology, but were rather being introduced to an

underwater world that had previously scarcely been captured on film. This media evidence

proved that whales are docile, social creatures, thus refuting prior claims that they are aggressive,

malicious creatures. People have become increasingly fascinated with whales’ vast size and

ability to swim at great depths. As a result, locations such as Sea World and Marineland were

established; whale watching is offered in coastal locations with a history of whale migratory

patterns. These activities give us the opportunity to observe ocean animals that humans rarely see

in the wild and learn more about the world we live in.

Boats: A Threat to Whale

With the steady rise in whale tourism, whales are being more frequently exposed to new

unintentional dangers. Regardless if the people aboard whale watching boats have good

intentions, the presence of the boat is a danger to whales. Whale’s feeding and breeding locations

are seen as hot spots for tourism because whales’ presence is expected during certain cycles of

migration.

9
However, the presence of boats may additionally be affecting swimming speed and patterns,

duration of dives, frequency of surfacing, and potentially even population size (The Benefits and

Impacts of Whale Watching). While it is uncertain what these behavioral changes could mean in

the long term, observational research shows that whales, especially humpbacks, experience

heightened levels of stress and display attempts to evade approaching boats (Schuler, et. al).

Motorized vessels have been recognized as threats to whales’ livelihoods, impacting fin whales

at the highest rate (Laist, et. al). Prior to the 1950s, the occurrence of a boat striking a whale was

a rare occurrence; the invention of faster boat motors propelled occurrences of whale collision

skyward (Laist, et. al). It has been reported that of the 25 documented dead endangered right
10
whales (1970-1989) off North American coasts, 5 were discovered with wound marks consistent

with boat collision injuries (Laist, et. al). Within a 30-year period, ship strikes resulting in

mortality for right whales increased by 12% making boat collisions a leading cause in injury and

fatality amongst endangered whale populations (Laist, et. al).

The Dangers of Whale Watching Preventative Measures: Safe Whale-

Watchingting Further Harm to Whales
Fear to Fascination

11
The whale watching industry has steadily grown over the past several decades, creeping to an

industry of approximately $2 billion USD as of 2009 (Schuler, et. al). While this activity can

greatly benefit society by teaching the importance of marine conservation, there are still several

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 3
drawbacks harmful aspects to the whale watching industrywhich are preventable. One way to

improve the whale watching industry and decrease vessel-related injury is by enforcing legal

regulations on maritime zones that have been identified as breeding or birthing waters. Whale

watching vessels should also travel at speeds under 14 knots (14 nautical miles per hour) when in

recognized zones of frequent whale presence (Schuler, et. al).

(as previously discussed). SeveralAnother preventative measures that whale watching

companies can enact to minimize the annual boat-related injury and /mortality rate include is

12
alerting educating passengers not to touch wildlife, including whales that may approach the

vessel; petting wildlife can unintentionally conditions the animals to seek out people humans and

boats more willingly, from other ships and sea vesselswhich means imminent danger for the

animal. If whales intentionally peruse pursue motorized boats traveling at fast speeds, there is a

high likelihood of injury or death. Whale watching vessels should also travel at speeds under 14

knots (14 nautical miles per hour) when in recognized zones of frequent whale presence

(Schuler, et. al).

Members of the whale-watching industry should implement and uphold these regulations in

order to ensure the safety of whales and other marine mammals. Safe whale watching practices

such as limited speeds in registered migratory areas, limiting access to certain waters depending

on migratory patterns, and educating passengers about whale-watching safety will guarantee a

healthy, populous whale community and secure jobs within the whale-watching industry. If

whale species are not protected while it is still possible, and their numbers continue to decline,

whale watching as a commercial industry may need to be banned in order to sustain the

populations of these creatures.

Benefits of Whale-Watching Regulations

Whales are very friendly, social creatures and will approach boats if they do not feel threatened,

because boat passengers greet and pet them. By making contact with these marine mammals, via

touching or feeding the wildlife, passengers are conditioning whales to expect attention when

they come into contact with boats. The main reason this is so dangerous is because not all boats

are expecting whales’ presence; marine vessels may be traveling at dangerous speeds when a

13
whale attempts to approach the boat, causing disastrous damage to the boat and immense harm to

the whale. By educating boat passengers on the intensity and urgency of the situation, a portion

of whales’ deaths and injuries can be avoided.

Off the coast of California in 2007, within a two-week period, three whales were killed by

vessel-related collisions and two other unstudied carcasses were also identified (Morell). If these

boats were traveling at slower speeds, closer to 14 knots, some of these mortalities may have

been avoided. Small, private boats, can reach up to 60 knots on open waters (Press) which

endangers not only whales, but other cetaceans and marine life as well. “Vessels less than 65 feet

in length have accounted for five of the 12 documented lethal strikes to right whales in U.S.

waters since 2008” (Press). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

reports that by enforcing nautical speed regulations of 10 knots to vessels 65 feet or under,

injuries to right whales can be prevented. Furthermore, if whales are detected, hit, or killed in an

area, the NOAA recommends avoiding these areas or reducing speed to 10 knots. These slower

speeds can significantly prevent whales from being injured or killed because it gives both vessels

and whales time to change direction and avoid a collision.

Conclusion
Boat related collisions are a leading cause in injuries and mortalities amongst whales, especially

right whales which have become critically endangered. To prevent further harm, whale-watching

companies should follow any and all nautical speed recommendations and recommendations to

ensure the safety of any whales inhabiting the area. Vessel captains are also responsible for

educating their passengers on the dangers that touching wildlife poses. This safety precaution

may prevent whales from approaching unexpecting vessels for attention. Overall, the whale-

14
watching industry needs to keep whales’ safety in mind above everything else, because humans

are intentionally encroaching into their waters to admire them up close; the least we can do is

approach them safely.

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