Lobstermen vs. whales

THE northern right whale, which once ranged the Atlantic Ocean from Britain to America, is on the verge of extinction, with only 400 remaining from a population that may once have numbered hundreds of thousands, scientists have found.The animal, historically a prime target for Britain's former whaling fleet, has been protected from hunting since the 1930s, but the failure of its population to recover had puzzled scientists. Now researchers have found why: the creatures are dying, usually in agony, after being hit by ships or tangled in fishing gear off America's eastern coast.The research, showing Americans are inadvertently threatening an entire whale species, comes as the American and British governments are trying to bring about an international ban on whaling, which is still carried out by nations such as Japan and Norway.MultimediaView pictures of the northern right whales"Humans are still killing whales," said Michael Moore of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on America's eastern coast, who carried out the research. "Fatally entangled whales can die very slowly over months or even years. This is an extreme animal welfare issue as well as a serious conservation problem." Other researchers from the New England Aquarium in Boston found that of the 400 or so animals left alive, about 300 bear serious scars from being tangled in fishing gear, usually lobster pot moorings."These animals would have lived long periods with significant pain," said Moore, a Briton who trained at Cambridge University. "If these were farm or wild animals on land, the industry perpetrating these injuries would never be allowed to continue."When deaths caused by ships are included, the population is declining by about 4% a year.The north Atlantic has been home to right whales for millions of years. They are among the largest whales, approaching 60ft in length and weighing up to 90 tons.American conservationists have persuaded the authorities to move shipping lanes from some areas where whales are found.Moore believes, however, that the battle lies on land. "It all comes down to an economic conflict with lobster fishermen and shipping lines on one side and the whales on the other," he said. "If we were willing to pay the price we could save these whales. The sad answer is that so far we aren't."-- The Sunday (London) Times