Whale protection

THE International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has agreed to new mandatory measures which aim to prevent whale strikes.

Taking effect on 01 Jul in time for the upcoming 2019/20 season, the move means cruise ships will commit to either a 10-knot speed cap within a specific area of the Antarctic Peninsula, or have an extra watchman on the bridge to monitor and record sightings in the same region.

IAATO Executive Committee Chair, Mark van der Hulst, said the unanimous move was a “proud moment for IAATO and hopefully a defining one for our industry”.

Since commercial whaling was banned in 1982 there has been a boom in populations, significantly increasing the chances of collisions with ships.