"Whales are increasingly exposed to traffic and ship strikes. The United States-Israel war on Iran has disrupted global supplies of energy, fertilisers, medicines and even helium, devastating economies around the world. Now it's also threatening whales off the coast of South Africa."
"Fighting involving the Houthis had already turned vessels away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal since 2023. Now the rival restrictions on transit through the Strait of Hormuz, imposed by Iran and the US, have amplified that shift. But the rising volume of shipping traffic near South Africa's coast has substantially increased the risks of whales being struck, researchers have warned."
"Traffic in the Red Sea area was initially disrupted back in November 2023, when Houthi rebels began targeting vessels sailing the area in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza. More recently, the attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently blocked by Iran, have also caused shipping companies to reroute vessels from the Middle East to go around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope. The disruptions have almost doubled the traffic in the area."
"At least 89 commercial vessels sailed around Southern Africa between March 1 and April 24, according to the International Monetary Fund's PortWatch Monitor. In the same period in 2023, there were only 44 vessels. South Africa's waters are home to more than 40 whale species. The Cape of Good Hope, the country's southernmost tip, is known to host populations of southern right whales, humpback whales, and Bryde's whales."
Whales face growing danger from ship traffic and strikes. Global shipping disruptions tied to conflict and transit restrictions have shifted more vessels toward routes around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. Fighting involving the Houthis began diverting ships away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal since 2023, and later restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz imposed by Iran and the US further amplified rerouting. Researchers warned that the southwestern coast of South Africa is becoming busier, increasing the likelihood of whales being hit. Traffic near the coast nearly doubled, with 89 commercial vessels sailing around Southern Africa between March 1 and April 24, compared with 44 in the same period in 2023. South African waters host over 40 whale species, including southern right whales, humpbacks, Bryde’s whales, orcas, sperm whales, minke whales, and dolphins.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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