Friend of the Sea urges Sri Lanka and the World Shipping Council
to shift lanes 15 nautical miles south to stop deadly whales strikes
Each year, the estimated 300 whales feeding near the Southern coast of Sri Lanka are hit over 1.000 times by up
to 300 meters long carrier vessels. 50 of these strikes are likely to
be lethal for the rare Pygmy blue whales. 2016 could be the ‘year of no
return’ for the whales in the area, unless the Sri Lankan authorities,
in collaboration with the World Shipping Council agree to submit, before
the 27th of November deadline, a proposal to the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) to shift the current lanes 15 Nautical Miles South.
Proposals submitted after this deadline would be enforced only 24
months later.
Friend
of the Sea has urged the Sri Lankan Government, the World Shipping
Council and the top ten shipping companies (NYK, Maersk, Evergreen
Marine Corporation, CMA-CGM, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, APL, Cosco, Hanjin, and
CSCL) to submit the proposal to IMO to shift the lanes 15 nautical miles
South. The international NGO has offered its help to coordinate a
meeting between the parties in the next few weeks.
“The
shipping industry has greatly reduced its environmental impact over the
years,” explains Paolo Bray, Founder and Director of Friend of the Sea.
“It is now time to deal with its silent impact on whales which are
being decimated by ship strikes. Shifting the lanes 15 nautical miles
South would reduce whales’ strikes by over 90%. The artisanal fisheries
and the whale watching industry, which is driving tourism in the area,
would also benefit. Coastal pollution would be reduced. Ships would in
the end have to add only an average 5 miles to their trips. By meeting
the 27th of November deadline, Sri Lanka could become an
example to be followed globally in environmental protection and whales’
conservation.”
Friend of the Sea
Friend
of the Sea is an international certification program for products from
sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. Over 450 companies in more than
50 countries have relied on Friend of the Sea to assess the
sustainability of their seafood origins. Audits, based on best and most
updated available scientific data, are run by accredited independent
certification bodies.
info@friendofthesea.org
www.friendofthesea.org
www.friendofthesea.org
Post
Nessun commento:
Posta un commento