Ship strikes kill hundreds of whales annually; speed reductions and routing measures can dramatically reduce mortality.
Whales struck by ships experience catastrophic blunt force trauma from massive ship hulls moving at speed. Injuries include broken ribs, internal hemorrhage, and spinal damage. Some whales survive initial strikes but die weeks later from injuries or infections. Speed reduction of ships by just a few knots dramatically reduces both strike frequency and lethality. The technology to alert ships to whale presence exists; implementation requires regulatory will.