The Marine Mammal Advisory Group (MMAG) is calling on the global sailing community to participate in an anonymous survey documenting collisions at sea between sailing vessels and marine wildlife.
Collisions with floating objects and marine animals are an unfortunate occurrence in the global sailing sector, with many reports of encounters with marine megafauna such as whales.
Founded in 2022, the MMAG collaborates across the marine industry “to advance technical innovations, improve risk assessments, encourage live reporting and citizen science, and foster education and outreach initiatives”.
According to the most recent data from the MMAG’s marine strike log, over 50 per cent of all collisions reported result in damage to either the vessel and/or its crew, as well as possible injury or death to marine life.
While the sailing sector only represents a percentage of the annual global ship strikes, the scale of these incidents largely goes unreported.
That’s because, unlike in the shipping sector, there is no requirement for systematic reporting for strikes at sea within the sailing world, so they often only appear in the news cycle when they impact a boat’s sporting performance.
‘Seafarers are the eyes and ears of the scientific community’
“We’d like to thank in advance everyone who takes the time to complete this survey,” said Damian Foxall, professional offshore sailor as well as co-founder and coordinator of the Marine Mammal Advisory Group.
“Seafarers are the eyes and ears of the scientific community. By sharing our observations we build a better understanding of our impact on ocean life and can use this knowledge to inform better practices as we shift our role from being ocean users to ocean stewards.”
Kerry sailor Foxall adds that the survey “is especially relevant along Ireland’s coastline, which is home to incredible marine life including whales, dolphins and other species we as sailors share the sea with.
“Plus, with Ireland and its waters being home to so much sailing, understanding what we encounter, and where, isn’t just about conservation — it’s also about keeping sailors and boats safe.”
Click HERE to complete the MMAG survey on collisions with wildlife and other hazards at sea.
