MARINE MEGAFAUNA & HUMAN COEXISTENCE/ Reducing ship strikes to safeguard sperm whales in the Hellenic Trench

THE NEED

Collisions with large ships in the Hellenic Trench, the area extending from the northern Ionian Sea to the southwest of Crete, pose one of the most significant threats to the sperm whale sub-population of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, now numbering less than 200 individuals, and characterized as endangered. The specific area is a critical habitat for the species and at the same time a very busy shipping route. Legal protection of this marine area is vital for the conservation of sperm whales, but, despite the acknowledged need for national and international protection measures, the Greek government has not yet taken any action towards this direction.

THE PROGRAM

WWF Greece and its partners – Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and Ocean Care – are constantly advocating for this issue, by informing and exerting pressure on national authorities and the maritime sector, for the application of appropriate measures to reduce the risk of collisions with these unique animals. As a result, the main areas of ship strike risk for sperm whales have been included in the Notices to Mariners, issued by the Hellenic Hydrographic Office, as well as in the Admiralty Sailing Handbooks, issued by the UK Hydrographic Office and used by the majority of international shipping.

Additionally, WWF Greece promotes rerouting of shipping routes and speed reduction, in collaboration with the abovementioned scientific and environmental institutions. This effort has already resulted in several shipping companies voluntarily implementing the proposed measures, within the two areas of the Hellenic Trench acknowledged as high-collision-risk areas, subsequently leading to a reduction of collision risk for sperm whales by 30% since 2021, laying the groundwork for further commitments by the industry. Within the framework of the program, and through advocacy actions, WWF Greece aims to leverage these commitments and the increased global interest for the establishment of  protection measures and the legal protection of the Hellenic Trench.