Dominica: The government of the Commonwealth of Dominica recently announced the creation of a marine protected area for the sperm whale. This species of whale is endangered.
Accordingly, the government’s creation of a reserve and a protected area is being appreciated worldwide.
The announcement for the creation of the Marine Protected Area was made on Monday, November 13, 2023. Stakeholders and high-level officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Blue and Green Economy were present at the announcement.
The event was also attended by several media members, National Geographic team members and other important dignitaries.
Dominica is the first nation to take such an initiative. The stakeholders and authorities who have remained associated with the project shared the government’s motivation behind taking the lead in this initiative.
Dominica is a small island nation in the Caribbean, where the ocean is twice the size of the landmass. Accordingly, the sea is one of the most important resources for the nation.
The government wants to see how best they can maximize the profits from the blue economy. The sperm whale project is an important part of realizing this mandate. To put the sperm whale reserve into action, the government has to construct a legislative framework. According to the government, this has already started.
The Ministry of Tourism and National Geographic has conducted a number of consultations in regard to this project. The government has dedicated 300 square miles of ocean to the reserve. This area already serves as the whale’s key nursing and feeding grounds.
In making this announcement, the prime minister communicated his government’s dedication towards keeping these “majestic and highly intelligent animals safe from harm.” Experts believe the reserve will play an important part in fighting climate change.
The Minister of Trade, who was also present at the announcement briefing, also spoke about the initiative’s significance. She said, “This is very important to us because of Dominica’s commitment to the preservation of life above and below water.” We are very much aware of climate change’s negative impacts on our environment, lives, and livelihoods.
Dominica enjoys a unique and special position in the marine geography of the world. The sperm whales found near the nation are known to defecate more than those found anywhere else in this world. The poop of the whales is rich in nutrients. They remain near the sea surface, and The area, which the government of Dominica has designated as a reserve, is home to less than 500 sperm whales.
Experts suggest that the whales found in the Caribbean, along the Lesser Antilles Chain, do not travel very far. This attribute of the whales is different from the section of the species which is found in the other parts of the world. Shane Gero, the whale biologist, revealed that the sperm whales found near the Commonwealth of Dominica defecate more than those elsewhere. However, the reason for this behaviour is not known with any accuracy.
Reportedly, the experts assume that this may be because their diet is twice as much as their counterparts. Another reason may be that there is something particular about the type of squid they are eating. The Whale biologist Shane Gero believes that the whale species may be fighting climate change on behalf of humans.