https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/02/climate/whales-speed-ships-slow.html
"Every year, in the waters off the California coast, hundreds of tankers, car
carriers and container vessels from dozens of shipping companies take part in
an unusual race.
To win, ships have to go slow.
Awards are given to companies whose fleets voluntarily reduce speeds in marine
areas where endangered whales migrate through and feed in. The prize, known as
Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies, comes with a sculptural whale-tail
trophy and bragging rights.
“It’s good for the environment, and we make sure the public knows about it,”
said Sean Hastings, a resource protection coordinator at the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration and a founder of the award program, which was
created by a coalition of national marine sanctuaries, air quality districts
and other nonprofit groups. “That’s the motivation right there.”
The real winner may be ocean life.
Program administrators say that the 2023 season, had the most participants ever
— 33 companies. Eighty one percent of the total distance their ships traveled
through the reduction zones was at the recommended speed of 10 knots or less,
and that reduced the risk of fatal ship strikes to whales during the year by 58
percent. Slower ships also generate less ocean noise and fewer greenhouse gases
and other air pollution.
“It’s like drivers slowing down in a school zone in the presence of
schoolchildren,” Mr. Hastings said. “Every animal counts.”"
Via
Reasons to be Cheerful:
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/what-were-reading-california-clean-energy-old-growth-forests/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
