Fin whales and sperm whales share protected Mediterranean waters with busy shipping routes. They are at risk of being hit in the area that stretches between Spain, France, Monaco and Italy.
Whales still need to reach the surface to breathe, even in heavily used waters. A Guardian investigation published on Monday reports that ships pass very fast through this protected area.
The problem has been under review for years. In July 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed on measures to reduce collisions there. This IMO sets international shipping standards.
An analysis published by OceanCare in October 2025 examined journeys during 2023 and 2024. Ships in the north-western Mediterranean travelled nearly 48 million kilometres in 2023 and 2024, with more than 80% of the distance covered by major merchant ships at speeds above 10 knots (19 kilometers per hour), increasing the risk of deadly collisions with endangered whales.
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Ferries were among the worst offenders, travelling more than 11 million kilometres in 2024, with 90.4% of that distance at speeds above 10 knots and nearly 30% above 20 knots (37 km/h).
Little has changed in the two years. OceanCare campaigns for marine protection and wants speed reductions to become mandatory. Boats should slows down where large whales are detected or reported. Crews should also share whale locations and report collisions.
The organisation identifies ship collisions as a major cause of human-caused whale deaths in the region. Slower travel reduces the chance that a collision will kill an animal.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: theanimalreader.com
