Brian Barton
Whales are majestic creatures that have long fascinated humans, but sadly, human activities are causing immense harm to these marine mammals. Pollution, particularly plastic waste, oil spills, and noise, is a significant threat to whales, leading to injuries, illnesses, and even death. With an estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic entering the ocean each year, whales are ingesting plastic, suffering from entanglement, and experiencing the toxic effects of chemical pollutants. The impact of pollution on whales is a pressing issue that requires urgent attention and action to protect these magnificent creatures and the health of our oceans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic ingestion | Plastic waste in the ocean can be mistaken for food and ingested by whales. This can block their breathing passages and cause internal injuries, resulting in death. |
| Plastic entanglement | Whales can become entangled in plastic debris, such as fishing nets and ropes, leading to drowning or extreme energy exertion, which can be lethal. |
| Oil spills | Oil spills can directly impact whales by contaminating their prey, causing them to inhale fumes, or swim through and ingest oil. It can also kill off smaller prey species, reducing the food source for whales. |
| Chemical pollution | Toxic chemicals, such as PCBs, can accumulate in the fatty tissue (blubber) of whales, leading to potential health issues and fatality. |
| Noise pollution | Human-induced noise can interfere with the ability of whales to navigate, communicate, and detect danger, driving them away from breeding and feeding areas. |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic ingestion
Humpback whales, which feed on krill and small fish, are estimated to swallow up to 4 million microplastics when feeding on krill and 200,000 particles when feeding on fish. Baleen whales, including humpback and blue whales, are particularly vulnerable to plastic ingestion as they feed on plankton, which moves through the water column with microplastics. A single blue whale can accidentally consume up to 1 billion pieces of microplastic in one day.
The impact of plastic ingestion on whales is not yet fully understood. However, plastic-derived contaminants have been identified in the blubber of whales, and it is thought that whales can be slowly poisoned by toxic chemicals over time. In one case, a sperm whale was found dead with 30 kilograms of plastic in its digestive tract, causing inflammation of its abdominal tissues.
The issue of plastic ingestion is not limited to whales but affects marine life across ecosystems. Microplastics have been found in at least 1,500 wild species, and the impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems and biodiversity is significant.
To address the issue of plastic ingestion in whales and other marine life, it is crucial to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans. This can be achieved through global efforts to reduce plastic waste, improve waste management, and promote sustainable alternatives. Public education and participation in initiatives such as beach cleanups are also important steps in mitigating the impact of plastic pollution on marine life.
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Entanglement in plastic
Marine animals, such as whales, often become entangled in plastic, including plastic bags, fishing nets, and other debris. This entanglement can be fatal, causing drowning, physical trauma, or infections. It is a significant cause of human-induced mortality in many whale species, and hundreds of thousands of marine mammals die each year as a result.
Whales and other marine mammals can become entangled in various types of plastic and marine debris, including abandoned fishing gear, ropes, lines, and trash. This abandoned fishing gear, often referred to as "ghost nets," continues to ensnare marine creatures, leading to their drowning as they are unable to breathe underwater. The entanglement may also cause physical trauma and deep cuts in their skin, increasing the risk of infections and vessel strikes.
Smaller whales and other smaller marine animals, such as sea turtles, seals, and porpoises, are at risk of immediate drowning if entangled in large or heavy gear. Larger whale species, such as humpback whales and gray whales, may not drown immediately but face the risk of exhaustion and infection. The entanglement can restrict their movement, making them more susceptible to vessel strikes and unable to avoid potential threats.
To address this issue, organizations like the International Whaling Commission (IWC) have launched initiatives such as the Global Whale Entanglement Response Network (GWERN). GWERN aims to build safe and effective entanglement response capabilities worldwide and prevent entanglements from occurring in the first place. They collaborate with various partners to develop guidelines, provide training, and create a global network of professional response teams.
Additionally, local organizations and governments are also working to reduce entanglement risks and rescue entangled animals. For example, the Island Trails Network, through partnerships and grants, aims to reduce entanglement and mortality of marine mammals and raise awareness about the impact of entangling debris. They also engage volunteers to remove marine debris from coastlines, helping to prevent entanglement and reduce the amount of plastic and debris in the oceans.
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Oil spills
Before the Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989, which released 11 million gallons of oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound, it was believed that marine mammals could detect and avoid oil in the event of a major spill. Unfortunately, the Exxon Valdez spill proved this wrong, as the resident killer whale population in that area suffered severe impacts. The number of whales in the pod has decreased steadily and significantly since the spill, and the pod has still not reached its pre-spill numbers.
Whales may be affected by oil spills in several ways. Firstly, they can be directly exposed to oil by swimming through it or ingesting it. Oil can cause external problems such as skin or eye irritation and ulceration. Inhalation of oil vapors is even more serious, as it can lead to pneumonia and other complications. Additionally, whales may be impacted by consuming prey that has been contaminated by oil. Oil spills can kill off smaller animals, such as shrimp-like creatures (krill), that are a part of the whale's diet.
To protect whales during oil spills, "'hazing'" methods are used to deter them from the area. These include acoustic deterrent devices that make sounds audible to marine mammals but not loud enough to cause pain. However, no single hazing technique works in all situations, and capture and rehabilitation of whales during a spill is improbable. Therefore, it is essential to take preventive measures to reduce the risk of oil spills and minimize their impact on whale populations.
The effects of oil spills on whale populations can be devastating, and ongoing studies are still working to understand the full extent of the damage. It is crucial to continue researching and implementing measures to protect these majestic creatures from the harmful effects of oil pollution in their ocean habitats.
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Noise pollution
There are two main types of noise pollution that impact whales. The first is short and extremely loud, such as from sonar and seismic surveys, which can cause deafness and strandings. Sonar and seismic air guns can reach volumes of over 200 decibels, and in the case of seismic air guns, up to 250 decibels, louder than the largest rocket taking off. While these noises may not directly kill larger animals, they have been linked to whale deaths through strandings and decompression sickness, caused by the animals surfacing too quickly. Beaked whales, in particular, are sensitive to sound and can dive recklessly when they hear loud noises, sometimes resulting in death from the bends.
The second type of noise pollution is quieter but constant and ever-present, primarily from shipping. The noise from cargo ships and other vessels fills the ocean, reducing whales' ability to use sound for essential life functions such as foraging, finding a mate, communicating, and evading predators. This phenomenon is known as acoustic masking and can impact whales' chances of survival and reproduction.
The impact of noise pollution on whale migration has been studied, with findings indicating that human-made noise reduces the ability of whales to hear acoustic communication, generates an avoidance response, and lowers the detection of environmental cues used for navigation. The extra migration time due to noise interference leaves whales with less time and energy for breeding and searching for food. Noise pollution can also cause stress in whales, which has been linked to strandings, growth suppression, lower fertility, and poor immune system function.
While it is challenging to understand the full extent of the problem due to the lack of baseline data, the COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to study acoustic masking as noise levels in many ocean areas decreased due to reduced human activity. Efforts to mitigate noise pollution and protect whales include advocating for policies and rules, such as restricting the use of sonar in critical whale habitats, and exploring quieter technologies and gear modifications for vessels and the aquaculture industry.
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Chemical pollution
Marine pollution is a pressing issue that poses a significant threat to the health and survival of whales. One of the critical aspects of this pollution is chemical contamination, which has detrimental effects on whale populations.
Whales, being at the top of the marine food chain, are particularly vulnerable to bioaccumulation. As they consume contaminated prey, toxic chemicals accumulate in their bodies, primarily in their fatty tissues or blubber. This buildup of toxins can reach harmful levels over time, especially when whales break down their blubber for energy during stressful periods, such as food scarcity.
One of the most concerning toxic chemicals found in whales is polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Whales, dolphins, and porpoises have been found to have high levels of PCBs in their systems, which can adversely affect their nervous systems. Lulu, an orca that stranded on the Isle of Tiree in Scotland, became infamous for having PCB levels 20 times higher than the safe limit. PCBs are believed to be particularly harmful to these marine mammals as they lack the enzymes necessary to break down these chemicals effectively.
In addition to PCBs, whales are also exposed to other toxic chemicals, such as those found in plastic pollution. Microplastics, tiny plastic particles, have been found in the stomachs of whales and their prey. These microplastics can act as a vector for other pollutants, such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which adhere to their surfaces. When ingested, these toxic chemicals can bioaccumulate in the whales' bodies, leading to health complications.
The impact of chemical pollution on whales is not limited to physical health issues. Research suggests that chemical pollution also impairs the senses, communication, fertility, and immune systems of whales and other marine mammals. Noise pollution, a form of acoustic disturbance, can interfere with their ability to navigate, communicate, and detect dangers in their environment, driving them away from essential breeding and feeding grounds.
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Frequently asked questions
Whales can become entangled in plastic waste, usually in the form of fishing nets and ropes. This can cause surface injuries, and the exertion of travelling with debris dragging behind them can sometimes be lethal. Plastic pollution also kills whales when mistaken for food and ingested, blocking their breathing passages and causing internal injuries.
Noise pollution from industrialization interferes with whales' ability to navigate, communicate, and detect danger. It interrupts their normal behaviour and drives them away from areas important to their survival.
Whales may be impacted by oil spills by eating contaminated prey, breathing in fumes, or swimming through and ingesting oil. Oil spills can also kill off smaller animals eaten by whales, and high doses of oil can adversely affect the nervous system.
