Thursday, 24 December 2020

Even a Slow Cargo Vessel Can be Fatal

A study, in the journal Marine Mammal Science, has found that endangered North Atlantic Right Whales have an 80% chance of being killed in a collision with a large cargo vessel travelling at only 10 knots (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/24/even-slow-moving-boats-likely-to-kill-endangered-right-whales-in-a-collision-study-finds). This is quite slow for shipping and reflects a 'speed limit' put in place by the Canadian government, in an attempt to reduce cetacean deaths. The data suggests that a) the 'speed limit' will have to be reduced or b) some other means found to prevent shipping and the whales coming into contact.

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Seeing the Changes 2127

In Loughor, saw a Buzzard ( Buteo buteo ) being mobbed by gulls. Also, spotted my first butterfly of the year in Penclacwydd: a ...