LIGHT-INDUCED BIRD
STRIKES ON VESSELS IN
SOUTHWEST GREENLAND
TECHNICAL REPORT NO. 84, 2010
PINNGORTITALERIFFIK
GREENLAND INSTITUTE OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Da a shee
Ti le: Ligh -induced bi d s ikes on essels in Sou hwes G eenland
Se ies i le and no.: Technical Repo No. 84
Au ho (s): Flemming R. Me kel
Depa men (s): Na ional En i onmen al Resea ch Ins i u e, Aa hus Uni e si y
G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces
Publishe : Pinngo i ale i ik, G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces
Yea o publica ion: No embe 2010
Re e ee(s): La s Wi ing, Ande s Mosbech and La s Mal ha Rasmussen
Financing: Pinngo i ale i ik, G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces
Please ci e as: Me kel, F.R. 2010. Ligh -induced bi d s ikes on essels in Sou hwes G eenland. Technical
Repo No. 84, Pinngo i ale i ik, G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces
T ansla ion: Sø en K is iansen
D awings: Kaspe Johansen (GIS-maps)
Co e pho os: La s Mal ha Rasmussen
ISBN: 87-912114-52-1
ISSN (elec onic): 1397-3657
Numbe o pages: 26
In e ne e sion: The epo is a ailable only in elec onic o ma (pd ) a GINR's websi e
h p://www.na u .gl
P in s can be eques ed om:
Pinngo i ale i ik
Pos boks 570
3900 Nuuk
G eenland
Phone. +299 36 12 00
Fax. +299 36 12 12
[email p o ec ed]
Ligh -induced bi d s ikes on es-
sels in Sou hwes G eenland
Flemming Ra n Me kel
Na ional En i onmen al Resea ch Ins i u e,
Aa hus Uni e si y,
G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces
Technical Repo No. 84, 2010
Pinngo i ale i ik
G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces
Con en s
Summa y 5
Sammen a ning 6
Eqikkaaneq 7
1 In oduc ion 9
1.1 Acknowledgemen s 10
2 Me hods 11
2.1 Da a collec ion 11
2.2 Analyses 11
3 Resul s and discussion 14
3.1 F equency, iming and loca ions o bi d s ikes 14
3.2 Numbe s and species in ol ed in bi d s ikes 16
3.3 Bi d s ike inciden s and wea he condi ions 18
3.4 Vessel ou es and bi d s ike isks 19
3.5 Ligh speci ica ions and damages o essels 22
4 Conclusions and ecommenda ions 23
5 Re e ences 25
G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces
Technical Repo No. 84
Summa y
Seabi ds a e highly isually o ien ed o ganisms and a e known o be-
come diso ien a ed a nigh in he p esence o a i icial ligh , e.g., om
ligh houses, oil pla o ms o essels. Coas al and ce ain o sho e wa e s
o Sou hwes G eenland cons i u e in e na ionally impo an win e ing
a eas o seabi ds and bi d s ikes a e epo ed as a p oblem when es-
sels na iga e in icy wa e s using powe ul sea chligh . In his s udy a se-
lec ion o na y essels, ca go essels and awle s epo ed on inciden s
o bi d s ikes using p e-supplied o ms.
Among 19 essels ini ially included in he s udy, 10 essels epo ed a
o al o 41 inciden s o bi d s ikes o e a pe iod o wo win e s (Oc .-
Ma ., 2006-08; o wo essels also he win e 08/09). Mos bi d s ikes
occu ed less han 4 km om land (76% e en s, 93% bi ds), bu in wo
cases as a o sho e as 205 km and 422 km. The mean numbe o bi ds
(±S.E.) epo ed killed was 11.5 ± 3.1 bi ds/inciden , wi h 88 bi ds e-
po ed as he highes numbe . All bi d s ikes occu ed be ween 4 p.m.
and 5 a.m. and signi ican ly mo e bi ds we e killed when isibili y was
poo (snow) a he han mode a e o good. The species epo ed we e
common eide (95%), king eide (3%), long- ailed duck (1%), mu es
(<1%) and black guillemo (<1%). In 17% o he inciden s essels e-
po ed abou damaged na iga ion o communica ion equipmen due o
a ian collisions.
Despi e huge a ia ion in he epo ing o bi d s ikes among essels,
his s udy con i ms ha ligh -induced bi d s ike inciden s occu on a
egula basis in Sou hwes G eenland du ing win e , especially in coas al
a eas when isibili y is poo . A c ude es ima e o he annual numbe o
bi ds killed in Sou hwes G eenland sum up o app. 2.000 indi iduals;
howe e , addi ional s udies a e needed o e i y he le el o his es i-
ma e. I is clea hough, ha common eide is he main species o con-
ce n, accoun ing o 95% o he bi ds epo ed.
To educe he numbe o bi d s ike inciden s I ecommend essels o
a oid known high- isk a eas a nigh when isibili y is poo , o shield as
much ligh as possible owa ds he sky, o swi ch o ligh when no used
and I ecommend s udies ha in es iga e al e na i e ice lookou ech-
niques, e.g., il e ing ou ce ain wa eleng hs o combining modi ied
sea ch ligh wi h image enhancing echnology.
5
Sammen a ning
Ha ugle o ien e e sig i s o uds ækning isuel og e kend o o e a
mis e o ien e ingen om na en, så em de udsæ es o kuns ig belys-
ning a eksempel is y å ne, olie/gas pla o me elle skibe. Kys næ e
ha om åde og isse udenskæ som åde i Syd es g ønland udgø e in-
e na ional ig ig o e in ingsom åde o ha ugle, og kollisione
mellem skibe og ha ugle appo e es o e som e p oblem, nå skibene
sejle om na en i is yld a and og gø b ug a k a ige isp ojek ø e . I
denne unde søgelse ha e ud alg a inspek ionsku e e, ag skibe og
awle e appo e e om il ælde a kollisione med ha ugle ia udle e-
ede spø geskemae .
Ud a i al 19 skibe de del og i unde søgelsen, appo e ede 10 skibe i al
41 il ælde a kollisione med ha ugle o e en pe iode på o in e (ok .
– ma ., 2006-08; o o skibe også in e en 08/09). De les e kollisione
ske e næ me e end 4 km a land (73 % a episode ne, 93 % mål i an al
ugle), men i o il ælde så lang som 205 km og 422 km a land. De
gennemsni lige an al ugle (±S.E.) appo e e d æb ed kollisione ne
a 11.5 ± 3.1 ugle/kollision, med 88 ugle som de højes e an al. Alle
kollisione ske e mellem kl. 4 om e e middagen og kl. 5 om mo genen,
og signi ikan le e ugle kollide ede nå sig ba heden a då lig (sne-
ej ), sammenligne med god elle mode a sig ba hed. De appo e ede
a e a almindelig ede ugl (95 %), kongeede ugl (3 %), ha li (1 %),
lom ie (<1 %) og ejs (<1 %). I 17 % a il ældene appo e ede skibene
om skade på na iga ions- elle kommunika ionsuds y som ølge a kol-
lisione ne.
Til ods o s o a ia ion i appo e ings ek ensen skibene imellem,
bek æ e unde søgelsen a kollisione med ugle, o å sage a skibenes
b ug a lys om na en, ske egelmæssig om in e en i Syd es g ønland,
sæ lig i kys næ e om åde og i o bindelse med då lig sig ba hed. E
g o es ima a den samlede å lige dødelighed i Syd es g ønland løbe
op i ca. 2.000 ugle, men de må dog anbe ales, a gennem ø e supple-
ende s udie o a bek æ e a de e e e e isende ni eau. De s å
imidle id kla , a de speciel e almindelig ede ugl de ammes, ide
ho edpa en (95 %) a de appo e ede ugle a a denne a .
Fo a educe e an alle a kollisione mellem skibe og ha ugle i Syd-
es g ønland om in e en, anbe ales de , a skibene så id mulig und-
gå æ dsel i kend e isiko-om åde om na en, nå sig ba heden e då -
lig; a a skæ me mes mulig lys, således a de ikke oplyse himlen, og a
slukke p ojek ø e nå de ikke e nød endige. Desuden anbe ales de , a
ekspe imen e e med al e na i e o e ågnings eknikke il scanning a is-
o hold, så som il e ing a sæ lige bølgelængde , elle a kombine e
modi ice e søgelys med egnede billed o s æ knings eknikke .
6
Eqikkaaneq
Immap immiai akusinnaasa ik malinne ullugu sumiissuse sio a pu
aamma qaamaniliani qinngo neqa illu ik soo lu naa alaa i si inni ,
uuliamik qille i inni umia sua nilluunnii qinngo neqa aangamik
amma ajaa a u ilisimaneqa poq. Kuja aa a Ki aani imaq sine issa-
mu qani oq a a aa alu ilaa immissa ima miu nunani allanee su
pingaa umik ukii igisa paa , aamaa umillu umia sui unnuakku
immami sikoqaqisumi qinngua aase so lu ik angala illu ik immissani
ima miuni apo a inne ik pillugu aku unngi sumik ajo na o siu eqa -
a u u nalunaa u igineqa a pu . Misissuine mi assani sakku uu
ima sio u umia suaa nakku illiissu i , umia sui assa uu i kilisaa illu
oqqakka apeqqu i imme sugassa iluaqu igalugi immami immissa
amakkununnga apo a a ne annik nalunaa usio a pu .
Umia sua ni 19-iusuni misissuine mi peqa aasuni umia sui quli
ukiuune ani (2006-mii 2008-mu umia sui ma luk ok oba imii
ma simu angalane a aamma ukiumi 2008/2009-mi) immissanik
ima miunik 41- o ia luni apo a neqa simane minnik nalunaa u e-
qa pu . Timmissa apo a u ame lane saa nunamii 4 km-isu
a asi sigisumi apo a a simappu (apo a ne i 73 %-ini, immissa
ame lassusia kisikkaanni 93 %) pisunili ma luinni nunamii 205 km-isu
aamma 422 km-isu a asi sigisumi apo a oqa luni. Timmissa
apo a ne minni oqusu agguaqa igiissillugu 11,5-iuppu , minus – plus
3,1, immissalli 88-i ame lane paamik apo lu ik oqusimappu . Ualikku
nal. 16.00-ip aamma ullaakku 05.00-ip ako nanni immissa
umia sua nu apo a a pu aamma sila isikki ilu sillugu (ni aanne ani)
immissa apo a u silap isikki iginne ani apo a a uni ame la-
ne usa pu . Timmiaqa igii nalunaa u igineqa u assaappu meqqi
nalinginnaasu (95 %), mi i qingalli (3 %), alle i (1 %), appa (<1 %)
aamma se a (<1 %). Timmissa apo a a ne isa 17 %-iini umia sui
sumiissuse siu aa imaluunnii a a eqaa inu a o u ajoquse neqa -
simane a nalunaa u igineqa a pu .
Naak umia sui ama mik immikku nalunaa usio a ne a aku usoo-
ujussuugalua u immissanik umia sua nu unnuakku qinngua aa-
se so unu apo a a unik misissuine i uppe na sisippaa Kuja aa a
Ki aani ukiukku , ingammik sine issap qani uani isikki ili umilu,
immissa apo a ne usa u . Kuja aa a Ki aa a ima aani immissa
apo a a u ukiumu 2.000- missaanniissaga inneqa pu , amannali
eqqo umik aku i sine une soq uppe na sa nia lugu anne une usumik
misissuisoqa a iaqa poq. Kisianni meqqi apo a ne usa u e seqqil-
luinna poq, assami immap immiai apo a u nalunaa so neqa ullu
ame lane saa (95 %) assaappu meqqi .
Kuja aa a ki aa a ima aani ukiukku immissa umia sua nu apo a -
a u ikilisinnia lugi siunne suu igineqa poq sila isikki ilu sillugu
umia sui sapinngisaq amaa unnuakku immissanik apo a iusa uk-
koo na ee saa aqqullugi ; qullii sapinngisamik asse so nia aqqul-
lugi , aamaalillu ik qilaap ungaanu qinngo innagi aamma qin-
ngua aa i a o neqannginne anni amakku qami a lugi . Tama uma
sania igu sikunik nakku illiine mi scan-e ine nu pe ia issanik allanik
7
nakku illiissu issanik misile aasoqa a nissaa siunne suu igineqa poq,
soo lu maligaasanik immikku immikkoo i e issu inik imaluunnii
qinngua aa i nammineq assinik e sa issaa i alli a aa simoo illugi .
8
1 In oduc ion
Seabi ds a e highly isually o ien ed and i is ecognized ha many bi d
species become diso ien a ed a nigh in he p esence o a i icial ligh
(B ude e e al. 1999). The majo sou ces o a i icial ligh in he ma ine
en i onmen include essels, ligh houses, ligh -induced ishe ies, and oil
and gas pla o ms. The a ac ion o ligh and esul ing isk o collisions
appea o depend on he wea he , season, he age o he bi ds and he lu-
na phase (see e . in Mon e ecchi 2006). A ew documen ed cases o
mass collisions o hund eds o housands o seabi ds wi h essels ha e
been documen ed (Dick & Da idson 1978, Ryan 1991, Black 2005), bu in
gene al quan i a i e in o ma ion abou bi d s ikes on essels is e y
limi ed.
The coas al and o sho e wa e s o Sou hwes G eenland cons i u e in-
e na ionally impo an win e ing a eas o seabi ds. Roughly es ima ed,
a minimum o 3.5 million seabi ds use his egion in win e , mainly bi ds
om A c ic Canada, G eenland and S alba d and smalle numbe s om
Alaska, Iceland, mainland No way and Russia (Boe mann e al. 2004).
Wi h he ela i ely ew hou s o dayligh du ing win e a hese la i udes
(60º-70ºN) and wi h ex ensi e shipping ac i i ies om ca go supplie s,
ishing essels and ou is ope a o s (Fig. 1.1), he po en ial isk o bi d
s ikes on essels in Sou hwes G eenland is high. Occasional epo s
om essels con i m ha inciden s o bi d s ikes do occu when hey
na iga e in icy wa e s using powe ul sea chligh , bu so a no a emp s
o quan i y he magni ude o he p oblem has been ca ied ou .
He e I p esen he esul s o a s udy conduc ed o e h ee win e s (2006-
2009) in Sou hwes G eenland, o which a selec ion o na y essels,
ca go essels and ishing essels coope a ed in epo ing on inciden s o
ligh -induced bi d s ikes. I p esen he loca ions o he epo ed bi d
s ikes and analyse he equency o inciden s acco ding o ime o sea-
son, ime o day, isibili y and dis ance o land. I oughly compa e he
a ic in ensi y o la ge ishing essels and ca go essels wi h he ob-
se ed bi d s ikes and wi h wa e dep hs o iden i y high- isk egions
o bi d s ikes. Finally, I make ecommenda ions on how o educe he
numbe o bi d s ike inciden s.
9
Fig. 3.2. The dis ance o
land and he mean no.
o bi ds in ol ed in 42
bi d s ikes epo ed
du ing win e (Oc . –
Ma .) in Sou hwes
G eenland in 2006-
2009.
0
5
10
15
20
25
[0-1[ [1-4[ [4-422]
Dis ance o nea es land (km)
Mean no. o bi ds pe bi ds ike ± S.E.
S ange pa e s also appea ed when looking a he equency o epo s
o indi idual essels. Fo ins ance, one coas gua d essel epo ed ap-
p oxima ely equal numbe s o inciden s in he i s wo win e s, while an
iden ical essel epo ed ze o inciden s in he same pe iod. Acco ding o
na y o ice N. Ves e gaa d (pe s. comm.) bo h essels pa olled he
same a ea (be ween Kap Fa el and Aasiaa ) in a simila way (< 10 nm
om he coas ) in bo h win e s and he con as ing numbe s should
p obably be asc ibed o con as ing awa eness/p io i y among he essel
c ews.
All epo ed bi d s ikes occu ed du ing nigh o in wiligh pe iods be-
ween 4 p.m. and 5 a.m. wi h no clea pa e n o occu ence wi hin his
pe iod (Fig. 3.4). Howe e , when g ouped acco ding o mon h he da a
sugges ha a highe equency o bi d s ikes occu ed du ing No em-
be , Decembe and Janua y, coinciding wi h he ex ended da kness in
he mid-win e pe iod (Fig. 3.5).
3.2 Numbe s and species in ol ed in bi d s ikes
A o al o i e species and 480 indi iduals killed o inju ed we e in-
ol ed in he 42 epo ed bi d s ike inciden s. The as majo i y o he
bi ds we e common eide s, accoun ing o 95% o he indi iduals, while
king eide (3%), long- ailed duck (1%), black guillemo (1%) and hick-
billed mu e (<1%) occu ed in small numbe s. Acco ding o p e ious
ae ial su eys common eide is by a he mos common seabi d species
in he coas al a eas o Sou hwes G eenland (Me kel e al. 2002) and his
alone explain why his species is ela i ely nume ous in bi d s ike
e en s on essels. The ac ha common eide s always ly low o e he
wa e and ha dly e e c oss land, p obably makes i mo e suscep ible o
collision wi h essels.
16
Fig. 3.3. Repo ed
inciden s o bi d s ikes
pe win e season (Oc .
– Ma .) in Sou hwes
G eenland epo ed by
10 essels (N = 20
essels in 2006-08, N =
2 essels in 2008-09).
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
2006-7 2007-8 2008-9
Win e season
Numbe o bi d s ike inciden s
Fig. 3.4. Numbe o
epo ed bi d s ike
inciden s g ouped ac-
co ding o ime o day
and summa ized o all
win e seasons.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 0 1 2 3 4 5
Time o day (local hou )
Numbe o bi d s ike inciden s
Fig. 3.5. No. o bi d
s ike inciden s pe
mon h as summa ized
o h ee win e seasons
and he median numbe
o dayligh hou s in
Nuuk (app. cen e o
Sou hwes G eenland).
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
10 11 12 1 2 3
Mon h
Numbe o bi d s ike inciden s
F equency o bi d s ikes
Hou s o dayligh
17
The maximum numbe o bi ds epo ed killed o inju ed in a single bi d
s ike inciden was 88 bi ds. Among he inciden s ha in ol ed he la g-
es numbe o bi ds, he op se en cases (>17 bi ds) all ook place in jo d
a eas and in ol ed only common eide s. This is p obably no coincidence
since jo d habi a s in Sou hwes G eenland a e known as impo an
win e ing a eas o common eide s and compa ed o coas al a eas he ei-
de s o en agg ega e in la ge locks in he jo ds (Me kel e al. 2002). I is
also known ha common eide s in he jo d a e mo e ac i e du ing
nigh s as hey eed mainly du ing da kness, while coas al bi ds p e-
domina ely eed du ing day ime (Me kel & Mosbech 2008).
Ob iously, he epo ed numbe s on killed o inju ed bi ds a e conse a-
i e igu es since some inju ed bi ds p obably escaped he essel sho ly
a e he collision. Fu he , in 27 o 42 cases essels epo ed ha some
bi ds ended up in he wa e a he han on he deck o he essel. In 10
cases he c ews we e unce ain i bi ds also ell in o he wa e and only in
i e cases hey posi i ely epo ed ha no bi ds ell in o he wa e .
The o al numbe o bi ds killed in Sou hwes G eenland annually as a
consequence o bi d s ike incidences on essels is di icul o es ima e
om his s udy due o a numbe o unce ain o unknown a iables.
Howe e , a e y c ude es ima e indica es ha he o al numbe o casual-
ies could add up o a subs an ial numbe : Assuming a mean numbe o
11.4 bi ds (480 bi ds/42 inciden s) killed pe bi d s ike inciden , a mean
bi d s ike equency o 1.0 inciden s/ essel/yea (38 /19 /2) and a o al
numbe o 180 essels oughly es ima ed o ope a e in Sou hwes
G eenland o e he win e , he o al numbe o casual ies add up o
~2,050 bi ds/yea , o which he majo pa would be common eide s.
The 180 essels is es ima ed as ~130 ishing essel >90 BT (see sec ion
2.1) plus addi ional ~50 essels accoun ing o ishing essels o 50-90
BT, ca go supply essels, esea ch essels and na y essels. The mean
numbe o 11.4 bi ds/inciden may be o e es ima ed due o he in lu-
ence o he coas gua d essels (ope a ing mo e coas al han mos o he
essels), bu on he o he hand, he o al es ima e o ~2,050 bi ds/yea
does no accoun o bi ds ha wen o e boa d and o un epo ed bi d
s ike inciden s.
3.3 Bi d s ike inciden s and wea he condi ions
In 26 o 42 cases o bi d s ike inciden s he isibili y was educed (poo
o mode a e) due o snow, in one case due o ain and in one case due o
unspeci ied easons. Bi d s ikes we e epo ed in 14 cases despi e o
good isibili y; howe e , he numbe o bi ds in ol ed in hese bi d
s ikes was signi ican ly smalle compa ed o inciden s ha occu ed
when isibili y was poo (K uskal-Wallis, P < 0.05, Fig. 3.6).
18
Fig. 3.6. The mean
numbe o bi ds killed o
inju ed in bi d s ikes
wi h essels in Sou h-
wes G eenland,
g ouped acco ding o
he isibili y om he
ship (Oc . – Ma ., 2006-
2009).
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Poo Mode a e Good
Visibili y
Mean no. o bi ds in bi ds ikes ± S.E.
Thus, a high co ela ion be ween he numbe o bi d casual ies om bi d
s ikes and he amoun o p ecipi a ion du ing win e should be ex-
pec ed. Howe e , he la ge decline in he numbe o epo ed bi d s ike
inciden s om 2006/07 o 2007/08 (Fig. 3.3) does no co espond o mo e
p ecipi a ion in 2007/08, a leas no in Nuuk and Qaqo oq. F om Oc o-
be un il Ma ch Nuuk go 329 mm o p ecipi a ion in 59 days in 2006/07,
bu 377 mm in 81 days in 2007/08. Fo Qaqo oq he igu es we e 260
mm in 36 days in 2006/07 and 340 mm in 47 days in 2007/08
(www.dmi.dk/dmi/ ej a ki ). Mo e likely, he epo ing was less con-
sis en in 2007/08 (see sec ion 3.1).
3.4 Vessel ou es and bi d s ike isks
De ailed in o ma ion abou he mo emen s o he Na y coas gua d es-
sels was no possible o ge . Howe e , we know ha ha hey pa ol he
coas al a ea be ween Kap Fa el and Aasiaa and only a ely go beyond
10 nau ical miles (~18.5 km) om he coas line (N. Ves e gaa d, pe s.
comm.). The mean dis ance o land (2.2 km) o he bi d s ike inciden s
epo ed by he coas gua d essels indica e ha hese ships ope a e
close o land han he essels engaged in ca go shipping and ishe y (see
sec. 3.1).
Fo he ishing essels, which ep esen he majo i y o he shipping ac-
i i y in G eenland, de ailed GPS-logs we e made a ailable by GFLK o
he la ge essels (>90 BT, Fig. 3.7). The da a clea ly iden i ies he impo -
an o sho e ishing g ounds o halibu s and sh imps, bu he highes
a ic in ensi y appea s o ela e o ishing g ounds close o he coas -
line (e.g., sh imps, c abs and cod). In combina ion wi h he commu ing
be ween ishing g ounds, landing loca ions and home owns he la ge
ishing essels o med an ocean highway along Sou hwes G eenland
oughly cen ed 10-15 km om he coas line (Fig. 3.8).
19
Fig. 3.7. T acks o ishing
essels (>90 BT, N ≈
130) in Sou hwes and
Sou heas G eenland
du ing he win e (Oc .-
Ma .) o 2006-2007 and
2007-2008. Da a om
GFLK.
Fig. 3.8. T a ic in ensi y
o ishing essels (>90
BT, N ≈ 130) in Sou h-
wes and Sou heas
G eenland du ing he
win e (Oc .-Ma .) o
2006-2007 and 2007-
2008. Calcula ions based
on he da a shown in Fig.
3.7, howe e , excluding
da a om dayligh pe i-
ods. Da a om GFLK.
20
The ansa lan ic ca go essels om Royal A c ic Line use he same
ocean highway when supplying he ci ies in Sou hwes G eenland. Since
hey go o ixed des ina ions by a ixed ime able he shipping ou es
a y only li le in ime and space. When he ships a i e in Sou h
G eenland om ansa lan ic loca ions hey end o go a he o sho e
compa ed o he ishing essels.
App oxima ely hal (46%) o he epo ed bi d s ike inciden s ook place
on he ocean highway iden i ied o he ishing indus y. I onically, none
o hese bi d s ikes we e epo ed by ishing essels (Royal G eenland),
bu ins ead by he coas gua d (12 o 29 cases) and ca go essels (7 o 9).
Whe he his is a coincidence o a ma e o insu icien epo ing om
Royal G eenland essels, is unknown.
The highes isk o bi d s ike inciden s along he ocean highway should
be expec ed whe e his o e lap wi h shallow wa e s (< 50m). Acco ding
o Fig. 3.8 his is especially he case in Sou h G eenland and no h o
Sisimiu . The 42 epo s on bi d s ikes con i m ha Sou h G eenland is
a high- isk a ea o bi d s ikes on essels, whe eas ha dly any epo s
we e ecei ed o he shallow wa e s no h o Sisimiu . This may, how-
e e , be s ongly biased by une en “su ey e o s” and esponse a es
among he essels included. A o al o 66% o he epo ed bi d s ike in-
ciden s ook place a shallow wa e s (< 50m), and 17% occu ed whe e
shallow wa e s o e lapped wi h he iden i ied ocean highway.
Fig. 3.9. T a ic in ensi y
o ansa lan ic ca go
essels (N=6) om Royal
A c ic Line in Sou hwes
and Sou heas G eenland
du ing he win e (Oc .-
Ma .) o 2006-2007 and
2007-2008. Da a om
Royal A c ic Line.
21
3.5 Ligh speci ica ions and damages o essels
The use o ligh on essels can se e mul iple pu poses and he quan i y
used depends on he ype and he size o he essel. In addi ion, ship
cons uc ion a ies qui e a bi depending on he ype o essel (e.g., ig.
2.2 s. ig. 2.4) and consequen ly he numbe o obs acles wi h which
bi ds can collide a ies conside ably be ween essels. O en spo ligh s
a e moun ed abo e he b idge o illumina e he o edeck du ing ac o y
ope a ions. Such illumina ion should be shielded owa ds he sky, be-
cause bi ds a e a ac ed p ima ily o ligh sou ces a he han he a eas
hey illumina e (Reed e al. 1985). Fu he , he ligh dis u bance could be
much educed i ligh s a e u ned o when o edeck ac i i ies a e in-
ished, especially when his coincide wi h poo isibili y ( og o snow).
The use o powe ul sea ch ligh s is essen ial, and o essels >150 BT
also equi ed by egula ion (Anon 2009), o he sa e na iga ion o es-
sels in icy wa e s. The ligh occu s a in ense sou ce poin s and can a -
ac ma ine bi ds om a la ge ca chmen a ea, and cu en ly al e na i e
lookou echniques appea o be limi ed. La ge icebe gs can sa ely be de-
ec ed on ada images, bu small ones can easily go unde ec ed o be
mis aken o ada noise a he sea le el. Based on a numbe o majo
bi d s ike e en s in he Sou he n Ocean, he Go e nmen o Sou h
Geo gia and he Sou h Sandwich Islands ha e been in es iga ing he use
o image enhancing echnology o enable a lookou o be kep wi h lim-
i ed use o ligh s (Black 2005). The s a us o his wo k is howe e un-
known. Elsewhe e expe imen s using ed il e s in on o loodligh s on
all cons uc ions ha e been shown capable o educing a ian casual ies
up o 80% (see e . in Wiese e al. 2001). In he No h Sea simila good e-
sul s ha e been achie ed by eplacing adi ional whi e ligh sou ces
wi h bi d- iendly g een lamps (low in ed) on an o sho e gas-
p oduc ion pla o m (Poo e al. 2008). To my knowledge simila expe i-
men s ha e no been conduc ed wi h sea ch ligh s on essels.
A emp s o educe he amoun o ligh used on essels can educe no
only he numbe o bi d casual ies, bu also he cos o eplacing dam-
aged ship equipmen s. In 17% o he bi d s ike inciden s essels e-
po ed abou damaged equipmen due o a ian collisions. The damages
we e mainly na iga ion o communica ion equipmen moun ed high a
he b idge, including sea chligh s, lan e ns, an ennas and ada s.
22
4 Conclusions and ecommenda ions
This s udy con i ms ha ligh -induced bi d s ike inciden s occu on a
egula basis on essels ha ope a e in Sou hwes G eenland du ing
win e , especially in coas al a eas (< 4 km o sho e) when isibili y is
poo . Howe e , he e was a huge a ia ion in he equency o bi d
s ikes epo ed among essels and yea s, which may be due o a ia ion
in he dis ance co e ed, geog aphic a ea o ope a ion, essels speci ica-
ions (incl. size and sea ch ligh speci ica ions) and inconsis ency in e-
po ing.
The ishing essels, which ep esen he majo i y o he shipping ac i i y
in G eenland, o m an ocean highway along Sou hwes G eenland
oughly cen ed 10-15 km om he coas line and he highes isk o bi d
s ikes is expec ed whe e his o e lap wi h shallow wa e s (app. < 50m).
This is especially he case in Sou h G eenland and no h o Sisimiu . Ou
s udy con i ms ha Sou h G eenland is a high- isk a ea o bi d s ikes,
bu no he shallow wa e s no h o Sisimiu . Howe e , his could be
s ongly biased by une en “su ey e o s” and esponse a es among
he essels included.
A o al es ima e o he annual numbe o bi ds killed o inju ed in
Sou hwes G eenland sum up o a ound 2,000 indi iduals. Howe e , i is
impo an o emphasize ha his is a c ude es ima e and addi ional s ud-
ies a e ecommended o e i y he le el o his es ima e. I is clea
hough, ha common eide is he main species o conce n, accoun ing o
95% o he bi ds epo ed. By way o compa ison i can be men ioned
ha he o al numbe o common eide s sho by hun ing in G eenland
anged be ween 20,000 – 25,000 bi ds/yea in he pe iod 2003 - 2008
(Pinia neq 2010).
The ollowing s eps should be aken o educe seabi d mo ali y caused
by ligh -induced bi d s ikes on essels in Sou hwes G eenland (some
ecommenda ions modi ied om Ryan 1991). This can educe no only
he numbe o a ian casual ies, bu also he cos o eplacing na iga ion
and communica ion equipmen damaged by he collisions.
- The cap ains and c ews o ishing essels o o he essels need o be
made awa e o he necessi y o educe and/o co e ligh sou ces on
da k nigh s, especially when isibili y is educed due o og o snow.
- Expe ienced cap ains will know a leas some o he high- isk a eas
o bi d s ikes in Sou hwes G eenland and should whene e possi-
ble a oid going he e on nigh s wi h poo isibili y.
- The use o powe ul sea ch ligh s a e essen ial o he sa e ope a ion
o essels in icy wa e s and o la ge essels (>150 BT) also equi ed
by egula ion. Howe e , p io i y should be gi en o in es iga e al-
e na i e g een ligh sou ces (low in ed), pe haps combined wi h
image enhancing ice lookou echniques.
23
- The use o spo ligh s moun ed abo e he b idge o illumina e he
o edeck du ing ac o y ope a ions should be shielded owa ds he
sky, eplaced wi h smalle ligh s moun ed lowe and close o spe-
ci ic wo king a eas on he o edeck o eplaced wi h mo e bi d-
iendly g een ligh sou ces. Fu he , much ligh dis u bance could
be a oided by swi ching o he ligh s a pe iods wi h no ac i i y a
he o edeck.
- The cons uc ion/o ganisa ion o he o edeck should be as simple as
possible; minimizing he numbe o e ical objec (wi es, wo king
ools, e c.) ha could inc ease he collision isk o seabi ds. Whe e
possible, c e ices whe e bi ds become lodged should be co e ed
o e .
- C ew membe s should be encou aged o sea ch he essel a e a bi d
s ike e en , o elease bi ds ound s ill ali e and o keep eco ds o
all bi d s ike e en s (incl. numbe o bi ds, loca ion and wea he
condi ions).
24
5 Re e ences
Anon 2009. Bekend gø else a eknisk o sk i om an endelse a isp ojek ø-
e ed sejlads i g ønlandsk a and. Sø a ss y elsen d. 4. ma s 2009.
Black, A. 2005. Ligh induced seabi d mo ali y on essels ope a ing in he
Sou he n Ocean: inciden s and mi iga ion measu es. An a c ic Science 17:
67-68.
Boe mann, D., Lyngs, P., Me kel, F.R. & Mosbech, A. 2004. The signi icance
o SW G eenland as win e qua e s o seabi ds. Bi d Conse a ion In-
e na ional 14: 87-112.
B ude e , B., Pe e , D. & S eu i, T. 1999. Beha io o mig a ing bi ds ex-
posed o X-band ada and a b igh ligh beam. Jou nal O Expe imen al
Biology 202: 1015-1022.
Dick, M.H. & Da idson, W. 1978. Fishing essel endange ed by c es ed auk-
le landings. Condo 80: 236.
Lyngs, P. 2003. Mig a ion and win e anges o bi ds in G eenland - an
analysis o inging eco e ies. Dansk O ni ologisk Fo enings Tidssk i
97: 1-167.
Me kel, F.R. & Mosbech, A. 2008. Diu nal and noc u nal eeding s a egies
in Common Eide s. Wa e bi ds 31: 580-586.
Me kel, F.R., Mosbech, A., Boe mann, D. & G øndahl, L. 2002. Win e sea-
bi d dis ibu ion and abundance o sou h-wes e n G eenland, 1999. Po-
la Resea ch 21: 17-36.
Mon e ecchi, W.A. 2006. In luences o a i icial ligh on ma ine bi ds. In:
Rich C. & Longco e T. (eds) Ecological Consequences o A i icial Nigh
Ligh ing, pp. 94-113. Island P ess, Washing on, D.C.
Mosbech, A., Gilch is , H.G., Me kel, F.R., Sonne, C., Flags ad, A. &
Nyegaa d, H. 2006. Yea - ound mo emen s o No he ns Common Ei-
de s Soma e ia mollissima bo ealis b eeding in A c ic Canada and Wes
G eenland ollowed by sa elli e eleme y. A dea 94: 651-665.
PAME 2009. A c ic Ma ine Shipping Assessmen 2009 Repo . A c ic Coun-
cil (PAME), Ap il 2009, second p in ing. 194 pp.
Pinia neq 2010. Hun ing s a is ics o G eenland, 2003-2008. Depa men o
Hun ing, Fishing and Ag icul u e, G eenland Sel Rule.
Poo , H., Ens, B.J., V ies, H., Donne s, M.A.H., We na d, M.R. & Ma quenie,
J.M. 2008. G een ligh o noc u nally mig a ing bi ds. Ecology and Soci-
e y 13: 47 [online].
Reed, J.R., Sincock, J.L. & Hailman, J.P. 1985. Ligh a ac ion in endange ed
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377-383.
25
