ABSTRACT: All species of large whales are susceptible to vessel strikes, but the true scale and geographical extent of such strikes is not known. This paper provides a qualitative assessment of the range-wide risks posed to gray whales Eschrichtius robustus by vessels, by comparing patterns of whale distribution with the density of vessel traffic seasonally throughout the North Pacific in 2019. Areas of very high vessel density were evident year-round near many coastlines, along inter-continental trade routes, and at hubs of commercial shipping near port entrances. Gray whales were exposed to vessel strikes throughout their range and in their feeding, southbound migration, wintering, and northbound migration periods. Areas of apparently high risk were in the Russian Far East (Kamchatka peninsula and Okhotsk Sea), Bering Sea (including the Aleutian Islands), Gulf of Alaska, and along the entire west coast of North America. Risk appeared greatest during south- and northbound migration when much of the gray whale population is moving through waters near shore. Tanker, container, and bulk-carrier ships represent considerable risk to whales in the North Pacific Ocean, but the large geographical extent of commercial fishing activities suggests that fisheries are also a substantial source of risk. Vessel-strike risk maps indicate the relative extent of exposure of gray (and other) whales to underwater vessel noise. The number of gray whales killed by ship strikes each year may be in the tens, or perhaps the low hundreds. Additional analyses, including quantitative assessments, are warranted to further clarify the risk of vessel strikes to gray whales.

中文翻译：

---

北太平洋灰鲸和船只交通的并存

摘要：所有种类的大鲸鱼都容易受到船只罢工的影响，但是尚不清楚这种罢工的真实规模和地理范围。本文对灰鲸Eschrichtiusrobustus造成的范围广泛的风险进行了定性评估通过比较鲸鱼的分布方式和2019年整个北太平洋的季节性船只运输密度。在许多海岸线附近，洲际贸易路线和商业中心附近，全年都有很高的船只密度区域在港口入口附近运输。灰鲸在其整个范围内，进食，南行迁徙，越冬和北行迁徙期间都遭受了罢工的袭击。风险较高的地区位于俄罗斯远东地区（堪察加半岛和鄂霍次克海），白令海地区（包括阿留申群岛），阿拉斯加湾以及整个北美西海岸。当许多灰鲸种群在海岸附近的水域中移动时，风险在南向和北向迁移期间显得最大。油轮，集装箱，散装货轮船对北太平洋的鲸鱼构成相当大的风险，但是商业捕鱼活动的地理范围很大，表明渔业也是重要的风险来源。船只撞击风险图显示了灰鲸（和其他鲸鱼）在水下船只噪声中的相对暴露程度。每年因罢工而被杀死的灰鲸数量可能只有几十个，甚至可能只有几百个。需要进行其他分析，包括定量评估，以进一步阐明船只对灰鲸袭击的风险。船只撞击风险图显示了灰鲸（和其他鲸鱼）在水下船只噪声中的相对暴露程度。每年因罢工而被杀死的灰鲸数量可能只有几十个，甚至可能只有几百个。需要进行其他分析，包括定量评估，以进一步阐明船只对灰鲸袭击的风险。船只撞击风险图显示了灰鲸（和其他鲸鱼）在水下船只噪声中的相对暴露程度。每年因罢工而被杀死的灰鲸数量可能只有几十个，甚至可能只有几百个。需要进行其他分析，包括定量评估，以进一步阐明船只对灰鲸袭击的风险。