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Negative Impacts
Negative Impacts
The fin whale highlights one form of Negative Impact: Accidents with boats
The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is known to quickly cover long distances. It is found worldwide however it’s conservation status is Vulnerable globally, and Endangered in the Mediterranean, where it is the only Mysticeti species present. It is at risk for ship strikes as it swims in the same areas of intense shipping lanes. Sometimes they are killed, other times they are injured. Even the large size of fin whales, up to 20 meters long and 80 tons heavy, is no match for huge container ships that can reach 400 meters long, 220000 tons and also move at around 40 km/h.
In this beautiful YouTube video by Roberto De Domenico get a birds-eye-view of the making of the previous video about Codamozza, with relaxing music to help you reflect on the difficult impact that fin whales and other cetaceans must face, link.
Positive Impacts with Mariasole
Positive Impacts with Mariasole
Mariasole Bianco is an active and dynamic Italian woman that has dedicated her adult life to making a difference for the ocean. She studied Marine Protected areas and created her own foundation! In addition she is often on TV and has even be in a cartoon!
ACQUATEAM is a short cartoon made by the Rai (an important Italian TV company) where Mariasole is the main protagonist. She has a team of friends that help solve problems in the ocean. The cartoon is only available in Italian but is shows one way you can make a difference, through media such as TV and Cartoons, a great way to reach a younger audience, link.
Another way you can make an impact is by studying the distribution and movement of species or by adding data so that other scientist can study them. Citizen Science platforms such as iNaturalist are great for observation and observing, link.
Search in the observation section for the fin whale and see what the observations of iNaturalist say about where Fin Whales have been primarily observed in the Mediterranean Sea.
Summary: We've learned about fin whales, accidents with ships, and positive ways we can make a difference.
Write your ocean journal entry! What changes do you want to see? How can you make them happen?
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