Is it allowed to expose young whales to short-term stress in order to better understand the effects of noise for their fellow whales?
This is considered appropriate in Norway.
Animal rights activists and whale researchers are storming.
Oslo (AP) - On the Lofoten in the far north of Norway, large underwater nets are stretched between rocky islands to intercept young minke whales on their way through the European Arctic Ocean.
Listening tests lasting several hours are to be carried out on the marine mammals (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in order to research the effects of human noise on the animals. Animal rights activists and scientists consider the experiments to be questionable. Is it allowed to examine wild animals under stress in order to collect data on the supposed well-being of their conspecifics?
Listening tests on animals are not uncommon. Recently, a project involving the German Maritime Museum in Stralsund showed that penguins are sensitive to noises above and below water. In the course of the behavioral tests, four Humboldt penguins were trained to touch a surface with their beak in a soundproof box when they heard a sound. The result: penguins react to sound underwater, but the researchers did not determine a hearing threshold.
A major difference to the current experiment is that the whales are wild animals. In the whaling country Norway, the responsible food authority Mattilsynet has approved the experiment. The aim is to gain knowledge of which sources of noise are harmful to whales. “Knowing how human activities disrupt wild animals will always be for the benefit of the animals,” the agency said. "We believe that this is also the case here."
Whales rely on sound communication to travel through the oceans. Man-made noise can be a nuisance. A total of up to twelve whales are to be caught in Lofoten during this and the three following summer and subjected to tests for a maximum of six hours. In addition to blood tests, electrodes are also used to examine their hearing ability while the animals are held between two rafts. If necessary, they should be anesthetized. Finally, their dorsal fins are fitted with satellite transmitters before they are released again.
The Norwegian authorities believe the exposure to the animals is justified. The whales should not be exposed to noise, rather the aim is to find the quietest noise level they can hear. "We believe the results of the experiment will benefit both minke whales and other whale species as we learn more about how noise pollution in the ocean can disturb these animals."
At the whale conservation organization Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), the project has caused deep concern. In May, the organization turned to Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg on behalf of more than 50 researchers. "We are calling for this project to be stopped as it could cause significant trauma to the whales without contributing to any useful science," the letter reads. This type of experiment has never been tried before, and the animals are worried about stress and injuries. "These experiments can lead to considerable suffering for the individual whales and risk undermining Norway's reputation." The letter was signed by leading whale researchers from around the world, including the Berlin marine biologist Fabian Ritter.
The concern of the signatories does not only concern the animals: If the stress leads to panic among the young whales, a dangerous situation could arise not only for them, but also for the researchers involved, the letter warns. The authors also question the informative value of the data. Solberg should demand a cancellation of the attempts. A corresponding online petition had been signed by around 72,500 people by Saturday evening.
The experiment is being carried out under the lead responsibility of the Research Institute of the Norwegian Ministry of Defense (FFI) and is financed by the US oil and gas authorities and the US Navy, among others. The institute defends the experiment. “We have little knowledge of the hearing ability of baleen whales,” says FFI communications director Anne-Lise Hammer - and the experiment is precisely about closing this gap. Guidelines and tools need to be found to minimize the negative effects of man-made noise on marine life.
The whale conservationists believe that it is no coincidence that something like this is being held in the non-EU country of Norway and not in the USA or the European Union. “These types of experiments should never be carried out in the waters around the USA because whales and dolphins are very protected there. They found a country to which that could be outsourced, ”says WDC whale protection expert Astrid Fuchs. That would have been difficult in the EU too.
“In general, of course, we always say that research on whales is important so that we can protect them better,” says Fuchs. "But it must not be invasive and stressful." Because the whale is in an unnatural environment during the experiment, it will be extremely stressed and fearful. “You can't generate scientifically reliable data that way.” In the worst case, the experiment could lead to the death of the animal. You have to realize that these are wild animals. "It really looks a lot like an actual animal experiment in captivity."
According to the FFI, the research team has until the end of June to catch whales - if that doesn't work, it will continue in the months of May and June of the next three summers.
The whale conservationists want to prevent the experiments in the years to come.
According to WDC and FFI information, no animal was permanently caught until Friday.
A whale swam in the fenced-off pool on Wednesday, as the responsible authority said.
However, he escaped again the following night.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210620-99-67060 / 2
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WDC to the experiment
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On the Lofoten in the far north of Norway, large underwater nets are stretched between rocky islands to catch young minke whales on their way through the Northern European Sea.
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