Third rescue attempt on whale fails

Competing interests in the fishing, shipping and conservation communities have clogged a process already hampered by inadequate funding, critics say. "We're still loosing whales," said Ann Bucklin of the Northeast Consortium, which funds cooperative research into fishing gear modifications.  "That's unacceptable."  Fish gear entanglements and ship strikes are the top known manmade killers of the whales. Regulations to reduce both risks have been enacted since 1997, though conservationists say more is needed. But developing new fishing gear in conjunction with fishermen takes time. Meanwhile, the federal government doesn't have direct control over international shippers, further complicating efforts to slow down ships or route them around whale feeding areas.

"We are retrying to merge a lot of viewpoints and strike that middle balance," said Teri Frady, spokeswoman for the National Marine Fisheries Service. "It is an involved process, it's a public process and it takes time." For the  past four weeks, scientist have been monitoring the deteriorating condition of "Churchill" about 100 miles off Cape Cod. They've tried twice unsuccessfully to sedate the whale, and while attempts to disentangle the line have not worked. An infection caused by the line will likely prove fatal, scientist say. Rescues plan to make another attempt to sedate the whale today. The population of the right whale is threatened by low birth rates, said Moira Brown, a scientist with the Center for Coastal Studies. This year's report of 30 new calves came after years of bad news, as births dropped from 22 in 1966 to one in 2000. But four of the new calves have died.  The whales feed in shipping lanes, and huge vessels traveling at up to 20 knots can't see them and can't stop quickly enough to avoid them.

Nina Young of The Ocean Conservancy, a Washington based environmental group, advocates ship travel at a whale safe speed of 10 to 13 knots, but ship owners are reluctant because of the loss of efficiency.  Moving shipping lanes requires approval by the International Maritime Organization, which the federal government has no direct control over.  Fixed fishing gear, such as vertical lines on lobster traps and gillnets is also a danger. Modifications aimed to weaken the gear enough to an entangled whale can break free, but not do much that fishermen can't use it.  Bill Adler, executive director of the Massachusetts Lobstermen Association, said new gear needs time to work.  "Fishermen are always getting blamed, and they're getting sick of it," Adler said. They're getting belligerent. Some are saying, "Maybe it's time for whales to go extinct.