Three types of whale that swim at Canadian waters have been included in their list of threatened species, according to scientists on Monday.
Sei whales were classified as endangered, while Fin and Sowerby’s beaked whales were found to be “of special concern” by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
The independent panel stated that human activities are to blame for the continuous population decline of the marine giants, despite Canada’s conversation efforts.
Increasing number of large ships that navigate on Canadian waters is also one of the main threats among the animals. The cetaceans often get tangled in fishing gears and are killed in collisions with the ships.
Naval exercises, noise from ships, and seismic exploration also “impedes their communication and survival,” according to the panel’s statement.
Most marine animals are susceptible to noise pollution, but COSEWIC noted that Sowerby’s beaked whales are most affected, because they use sound to navigate and hunt.
Whale sightings have increased in a marine protected area off Nova Scotia’s Atlantic coast, which offers whales a breather from the clamor.
“Species don’t care about borders,” John Reynolds, COSEWIC chair, said in a statement. “We need to address threats as a global community. No country can save these species on its own.”
The panel now urges others to create more refuges, including in international waters, to help reverse the whale’s declining population.
This coincides with the recently released United Nations report on biodiversity warning, which shows a million species are threatened with extinction due to mankind’s destruction of the planet.
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