Dominion in Dominican waters
The world’s first sperm whale marine reserve
Great strides in impactful, well-founded, and tangible marine conservation wins are few and far between. Especially in the realm of marine protected areas. Especially, especially when said marine protected area (MPA) is designed specifically for the wellbeing of a single species. In this case, the mighty sperm whale. And yet, despite the rarity (this is actually the first ever MPA developed for the sole benefit of sperm whales), news was announced last month that the tiny island nation of Dominica will be doing just that - taking a stand to actively protect these endangered giants.
Less than 500 sperm whales frequent the waters off the coast of Dominica, using the area as vital feeding and nursing grounds. Around 300 of these form the imposing-sounding Eastern Caribbean Clan12. Despite such low numbers, scientists predict that these special few sequester an astonishing 4,200 metric tonnes of carbon every year.
All great whales are capable of capturing carbon. This happens both within their biomass and their faeces. As they dive so deep to feed, sperm whales are particularly adept at this. Travelling around 1,000 metres down to hunt squid, when they return to the surface to breathe and rest, they also defecate. The faeces they deposit is so nutrient-rich it attracts blooms of plankton which sequester carbon on a massive scale via photosynthesis3.
Sperm whales, and every other creature in the ocean, are without a doubt deserving of protection in their own right and this should always be a priority. They’re an intellectually and emotionally intelligent species, capable of forming strong social bonds, with intricate communication techniques and are a key species within marine ecosystems. They are not the ecosystem services they provide us with but there is no denying that their ability to sequester this much carbon should only further our commitment to protect them. And if ocean nations are willing to shield them from environmental impacts by establishing marine protected areas because of what the sperm whales can give us in return, that’s good enough for me.
Located on the western side of the Caribbean island, the marine reserve will span 300 square miles (788 square kilometres). Although this is only around 3% of Dominica’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ - an area of ocean along a country's coastline which they can claim rights over), it will expand its marine protected areas by 70%, joining two other much smaller reserves.
Within these waters sperm whales are at risk from fishing gear entanglement, pollution from agricultural runoff, and vessel collisions. Establishing a marine sanctuary could be the key solution to mitigate these threats. At the very least, it’s a start.
So what does the marine protected area actually mean? Firstly, it requires sustainable fishing practices within its waters. This means only artisanal fishing practices that do not disrupt sperm whale behaviour or compete for their food sources are permitted. However, fish aggregating devices—wooden structures with hanging nets to attract fish—are still allowed, which brings into question how effective these measures are at reducing the risk of entanglement.
Shipping traffic is also restricted to designated lanes in a bid to minimise the risk of collisions and entanglements as well as reduce noise pollution for the sperm whales. To better combine marine conservation with responsible tourism, whale watching tours will also be closely monitored. The plan involves deploying ‘Senior Whale Officers’ and other observers on tourism and research vessels. This is to ensure tourism activities are following the regulations and do not disturb the whales in any way — fostering a better coexistence for everyone involved.
In this groundbreaking move Dominica's remarkable initiative stands as an example of tangible marine conservation in a climate of endless promises and little action. The new MPA simultaneously addresses the Climate Crisis, the preservation of biodiversity, and the fostering of sustainable economic growth without putting the sperm whales at risk.
Here's to creating more marine protected areas around the world that do the same.
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Amie 🐋
The migration patterns of sperm whales are less predictable than other species as their distribution depends on local food sources and suitability for breeding so some clans may not travel quite as far as others.
No proven association with the Wu Tan Clan (yet).
Plankton and whales are also great carbon sinks. When they die, their bodies sink and effectively store carbon on the ocean floor, mitigating the impacts of the Climate Crisis.
Watching the evolution of MPAs rolling out around the globe over the last few years is fascinating, but hard to keep up with! Thanks for sharing this great story.