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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Dead on the Beach? Predicting the Drift of Whale Remains Improves Management for Offshore Disposal
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, Vol.12(7), pp.1-18
2024
Abstract
Whale mortality and strandings have increased in recent years, with deceased whales often brought to landfill. However, the disposal of whale remains offshore holds significant ecological importance and can be a culturally and ethically sensitive approach. Moreover, offshore disposal mitigates potential risks associated with onshore whale remains disposal, such as the spread of diseases and the logistical challenges of managing large carcasses. A challenge with offshore disposal is defining the best release location to avoid the remains drifting ashore or into shipping channels. Here we compared the drift model outputs using a drift forecast model (SARMAP) for a 14 m whale carcass that was moved offshore in southeast Queensland, Australia, and fitted with a satellite tracker over an observation period of 150 h until positioning signal ceased. The modelling was conducted using different ocean products (BLUElink, HYCOM, and Copernicus), which showed a good agreement with the tracked whale carcass, albeit with changing wind conditions and contrasting currents flowing northward along the coast and, further offshore, flowing south. This case study illustrated that wind was the foremost driver of carcass drift due to the surface area above the water surface. The drift forecast simulations allowed for a reliable prediction of the floating whale drift that can assist authorities with decision making. Offshore disposal of whale carcasses is a sustainable practice but requires good planning and scientific assessment.
Details
- Title
- Dead on the Beach? Predicting the Drift of Whale Remains Improves Management for Offshore Disposal
- Authors
- Jan-Olaf Meynecke (Corresponding Author) - Griffith UniversitySasha Zigic - RPSLarissa Perez - RPSRyan J. K. Dunn - RPSNathan Benfer - RPSJohan Gustafson - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringSimone Bosshard - Sunshine Coast Council (Australia)
- Publication details
- Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, Vol.12(7), pp.1-18
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Date published
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.3390/jmse12071156
- ISSN
- 2077-1312
- Copyright note
- © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Data Availability
- Data is available on request.
- Grant note
- This work was supported by a grant to Griffith University from a private charitable trust as part of the Whales and Climate Research Program www.whalesandclimate.org accessed on 15 May 2024.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991051595202621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Engineering, Marine
- Engineering, Ocean
- Oceanography
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