A new international report has highlighted growing efforts to reduce vessel strikes on whales and other marine megafauna as global shipping traffic continues to increase.
The findings were presented following a specialist workshop held during the European Cetacean Society Conference on 21 April 2026. The event brought together scientists, policymakers, maritime operators and conservation groups to examine ways of reducing collision risks.
The workshop featured 40 presentations covering science, policy, technology, maritime operations and education. Participants explored future plans for a Global Risk Assessment Framework to help governments and industry identify collision hotspots and improve navigational safety for marine life.
The report found that vessel speed reductions and route adjustments remain the most effective measures for reducing strike risks. Experts also highlighted the growing role of technologies such as passive acoustic monitoring, thermal imaging and real-time detection systems. However, contributors stressed that technology should support, rather than replace, proven operational measures.
Hotspot Map — A global heat map of whale strike density based on Marine Strike Log data highlights collision hotspots where shipping activity overlaps with whale habitats. Photo: Marine Mammal Advisory Group Marine Strike Log
Damian Foxall, co-founder of the Marine Mammal Advisory Group (MMAG), said the organisation's mission is to reduce strike risks across the sailing and recreational boating sectors. "Through MMAG’s six-pillar mitigation strategy, our community can garner shared learnings, insights, data and solutions to lower risk and reduce incidents globally," he said.
The report identified ongoing challenges related to data gaps, inconsistent reporting, and a lack of standardisation across assessment systems. Despite these obstacles, case studies have shown that risk assessments have already helped introduce practical measures, including speed restrictions, rerouted shipping lanes, and exclusion zones in several regions.
Alice Bouchard, Vessel Strikes and Strandings Data Manager with the International Whaling Commission, said vessel strikes remain one of the organisation's key conservation concerns. "Effective response requires coordinated, global and multi-disciplinary action," she said.
The report also examines collision risks in the Canary Islands, where busy ferry routes overlap with important whale habitats. Researchers found that reducing vessel speeds to 10 knots could significantly lower strike risks while adding less than three hours to a typical cargo voyage.
Natacha Aguilar of the Oceanographic Centre of the Canary Islands said local authorities and ferry operators are already working towards improved mitigation measures.
Participants agreed that stronger cooperation among governments, industry, researchers, and conservation organisations will be needed to translate scientific knowledge into practical action.
The next international workshop on marine megafauna collision risk will take place at the 26th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in October 2026.
