Whales at Risk as Ships Reroute Around Africa to Avoid Middle East, Scientists Warn
Marine biologists warn that cargo ships rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid Suez and Hormuz could sharply increase whale strikes and noise pollution off South Africa and Mozambique. Conservation groups are calling for mandatory speed limits in key migration corridors.
The Iran conflict and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed much of Asia-Europe cargo onto the longer Cape of Good Hope route. Scientists working off South Africa and Mozambique say vessel volumes in key whale migration corridors have roughly doubled.
Southern right and humpback whales are exposed to ship strikes and to disorientation from low-frequency engine noise. Females spend the southern autumn and winter here during a critical breeding period.
Conservation groups are urging speed limits near Cape Town and Maputo and routing aligned with whale-density maps. The IMO is expected to consider the issue in coming months.
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