CWF helps to expand modelling tool for better whale protection measures

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) has contributed to a significant update of a modelling tool that helps researchers assess the risk of fatal ship strikes on large whales. The improved tool advances collision risk analysis by including data for different types of vessels and whale species.

Ship strikes remain a significant threat to large whales, and while vessel speed has long been recognized as a key factor influencing injury severity, earlier models could not fully account for a particular vessel’s size or shape. The updated tool addresses this gap by incorporating relationships between vessel length and mass across 12 vessel categories, while also integrating body measurements for 10 additional whale species to broaden the application.

The “whalestrike” package is available to researchers and designed to support the development of marine policies, particularly those related to vessel speed management. Built in the statistical software R, commonly used by marine biologists, it allows researchers to run simulations and analyze results using a wide range of tools. It also includes a graphical interface that facilitates more accessible exploration of scenarios, which can help inform or communicate policy decisions.

By improving the ability to estimate strike lethality across different vessel-whale scenarios, the tool supports more precise identification of high-risk areas. This information can guide vessel management measures to reduce collisions, including for smaller vessels that were previously difficult to assess.