Less ice in the Bering Strait has lead to an increase of migrating whales using that route, as have more ships, which could lead to collisions and whale deaths.
According to Discovery News a research team has recorded more and more whales passing through the Bering Strait from 2009 to 2012 as Arctic ice melts. Some whales that normally live further south have begun using the Strait.
Oceanographer Kate Stafford, from the University of Washington, noted that the as more whales use the Strait, there is an increased chance whales could get hit by ships or have their communications with each other disrupted as other whales join the fray.
She presented her findings at the Ocean Sciences Meeting in Honolulu, but noted there are still questions to be answered.
"The Arctic areas are changing. They are becoming more friendly to sub-Arctic species." She added, "we don't know how that will impact Arctic whales. Will they be competitors for food? ... Will they be competitors for acoustic space? ... We just don't know."
Headlines & Global News reports her team saw the Bering Strait used more and more for shipping lanes, which puts "the whales at risk of collision, the noise pollution could also pose a problem."
One suggestion would be to have ships travel at slower speeds in these Arctic areas, as well as reduce engine noise, to help the whales keep from getting confused or lost.
image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
