Cruise ships told to reduce speed after pregnant endangered whale killed in Alaska
The request from wildlife conservationists follows a June 19 incident involving Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, which arrived in Seward, Alaska, with the body of a 61-foot female fin whale draped across its bulbous bow (NOAA Fisheries Alaska)
Wildlife conservationists are urging Royal Caribbean to reduce cruise ship speeds after one of its vessels struck and killed a pregnant endangered fin whale in Alaska.
The incident occurred on 19 June when the Ovation of the Seas arrived in Seward with the 61-foot whale’s body on its bow.
A necropsy by federal officials confirmed the whale died from blunt force trauma consistent with a ship strike and was otherwise healthy.
The Center for Biological Diversity has sent a letter to Royal Caribbean, requesting ships voluntarily limit speeds to 10 knots in whale habitats to prevent future collisions.
Royal Caribbean stated it is cooperating fully with NOAA regarding the incident and takes impacts to marine ecosystems seriously.
.png)
.png?quality=75&width=83&auto=webp%2083w)