BackSCIENCE_HEALTH
Whales could be harmed by diverted ships avoiding Middle East, scientists warn
Scientists warn that diversions of global shipping routes away from the Middle East have raised the risk of collisions with whales off South Africa. Data are incomplete, but researchers urge adjustments to routes and speeds pending more offshore whale-population data.
Why It Matters
The shift in major shipping lanes increases the danger to whales, while limited data on offshore populations makes it hard to quantify the threat or implement effective protections.
Timeline
4 Events
May 11, 2026: IWC presentation and cautions from scientists
May 11, 2026
Professor Els Vermeulen, chief scientist at the University of Pretoria's Whale Unit, and her team presented their findings to the International Whaling Commission. She cautioned that quantifying whale strikes is difficult due to a lack of current data and noted that many collisions occur offshore, often resulting in cryptic mortality—whales sinking to the ocean floor rather than washing ashore. She proposed potential measures such as tweaking shipping routes and reducing vessel speeds at certain times of year, but said more data on offshore whale populations is needed before recommending solutions.
March 2026: Increase in vessel traffic around the Cape of Good Hope
March 2026
Between March and April 2026, around 89 commercial vessels sailed around the Cape of Good Hope, nearly double the 44 recorded for March–April 2023.
March–April 2023: Cape of Good Hope traffic around the route period
April 2023
During March–April 2023, around 44 commercial vessels sailed around the Cape of Good Hope, a figure used for comparison with 2026 data.
2023: Yemeni vessel hijacking prompts rerouting around South Africa
2023
Houthi rebels hijacked a British-owned vessel near Yemen, prompting rerouting of shipping around South Africa. This rerouting has substantially increased the chances of ship-whale collisions off South Africa's south-western coast.