Ship strikes on whales, and underwater radiated noise, are both disturbing issues that the industry has taken measures to address.
The World Shipping Council has released its Whale Chart 2025, a global planning aid to help protect whales.
The initial 2023 Chart was the first global mapping of all known mandatory and voluntary government measures to reduce harm to whales from ships by accidental collision or from noise.
Measures typically include slowdown areas, no-go zones, look-out requirements, distancing rules, route alteration, and reporting measures.
“The WSC Whale Chart offers mariners, managers, and policymakers a survey of all these measures… we hope that by compiling this unique resource, keeping it updated and making it available for free to everyone, we can help safeguard whale populations across the globe,” the WSC says.
