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As a result of a United Nations General Assembly resolution passed in December 2008, World Oceans Day is celebrated on June 8th each year. This annual event spurred the creation of a special collections around our oceans and the efforts being made in conservation ranging from pollution to habitat restoration to fishing and fisheries.

The special collection continues to grow along with Plastic in Our Oceans and 1Water, with a focus on the challenge of providing clean drinking water to the world population.

Curated by mokiethecat

Speeding Ships Are Killing North Atlantic Right Whales
July 20, 2021

A new Oceana report reveals widespread non-compliance with speed limits in critical North Atlantic right whale protection zones. Analyzing vessel speeds from 2017-2020, the study found nearly 90% non-compliance in mandatory areas and 85% non-cooperation in voluntary zones along the U.S. Atlantic coast. Only about 360 critically endangered right whales remain.

Vessel collisions are a leading cause of death for these whales. Studies show that reducing vessel speeds to 10 knots can cut the risk of fatal strikes by 80-90%. While the analysis focused on larger vessels, all vessel sizes pose a threat; a 54-foot recreational vessel recently killed a calf.