Wildlife conservationists are urging Royal Caribbean to reduce the speed of its cruise ships after a pregnant endangered whale was found dead on one of its vessels upon its arrival in Alaska. The Center for Biological Diversity sent a letter requesting the cruise line to voluntarily limit its ship speeds to 10 knots, approximately 11 mph, in areas frequented by whales. They argue that slowing down would reduce the chances of fatal collisions.
This plea follows a tragic incident on June 19 when the Ovation of the Seas arrived in Seward, Alaska, with the body of a 61-foot female fin whale draped across its bow. A necropsy conducted by officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration revealed the whale had died from blunt force trauma consistent with a ship strike and was pregnant at the time of her death.
The Alaska Director at the Center for Biological Diversity expressed outrage over the incident, stating that the loss of this nursing mother represents a setback for the entire population of fin whales. He emphasized the need for Royal Caribbean to take immediate responsibility to prevent future occurrences.
While the whale’s precise cause of death awaits further testing, officials announced plans to tow its carcass out to sea, where it will sink and nourish the marine ecosystem. Fin whales, listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, suffer a high risk of vessel strikes, making conservation efforts essential.
The Center for Biological Diversity highlighted the importance of understanding how such incidents could happen, particularly with respect to crew awareness of whale presence and ship speeds. The organization has long advocated for mandatory vessel speed reductions in areas known to be hotspots for whale activity.
Royal Caribbean has acknowledged the incident, confirming that their ship struck the whale and expressing sorrow over the matter. The cruise line stated their commitment to cooperate fully with federal authorities and await the results of the necropsy.
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