FACTS

1. Boat strikes are a significant threat to marine animals worldwide.
2. Boat strikes most commonly impact large marine animals such as whales.
3. Certain areas are considered hotspots for boat strikes due to high levels of boat traffic and the presence of vulnerable marine species.
4. Boat strikes can cause direct mortality, injuries, or long-term impacts on reproduction and survival rates, leading to population declines.
5. Propellers can cause deep lacerations, internal injuries, and dismemberment of marine animals.
6. Boat strikes are believed to be underreported, as some incidents go unnoticed or unreported.
7. Both recreational and commercial boating activities contribute to the risk of boat strikes.
8. Scientists, conservation organizations, boating communities, and government agencies are working together to study the impact of boat.
9. Protecting marine animals from boat strikes is an integral part of broader conservation efforts aimed at preserving marine biodiversity and ecosystems.
10. Adherence to regulations and guidelines regarding boat strikes is crucial for minimizing the risks.
11. Boat strikes, pose cumulative risks to marine animals.

STATS

• According to (NOAA), 80% of North Atlantic right whales show signs of at least one boat strike during their lifetime.
• A study published in the journal PLOS ONE estimated that approximately 292 whales died from boat strikes.
• According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, out of the total recorded manatee deaths in Florida, approximately 25% are attributed to watercraft collisions.
• A study published in the journal Biological Conservation estimated that boat strikes accounted for around 30% of the mortality of loggerhead sea turtles in the Mediterranean Sea.
• According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Recreational Boating Statistics, in 2020, there were 157 reported accidents involving collisions with other vessels, resulting in 19 fatalities and 89 injuries.
• 37 whales were reported to have been injured by vessel strikes along the Atlantic coast of the United States and Canada, as well as the Gulf of Mexico.
• Vessel strikes are one of the most common causes of sea turtles stranding in the United States. In Florida alone, injuries consistent with vessel strikes are observed in 20 to 30 percent of stranded sea turtles.