Slower ships could help save orcas and other endangered species, research shows

By Peter Spinks
Updated February 15 2016 - 10:08am, first published February 2 2016 - 11:00pm
Two endangered Southern Resident orcas rise in unison from the Salish Sea as a noisy tanker passes through their marine habitat, along the Canada-US border. Photo: beamreach.org
Two endangered Southern Resident orcas rise in unison from the Salish Sea as a noisy tanker passes through their marine habitat, along the Canada-US border. Photo: beamreach.org
A male orca uses echo-location to find his favourite food, chinook salmon, in Haro Strait, Washington State. Photo: beamreach.org
A male orca uses echo-location to find his favourite food, chinook salmon, in Haro Strait, Washington State. Photo: beamreach.org

Orcas, one of the world's most powerful predators, dread the drone from ship engines and propellers. The underwater noise, which can be intense, interferes with the way that these killer whales and other marine mammals communicate and feed, researchers have found.

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