What drives shipping vessels to slow down for whales? REP 2026

What drives shipping vessels to slow down for whales? REP 2026

Lead Supervisor:
Rachel Seary

Locations:
University of Kent

Duration:
8 weeks

Suitable undergraduate degrees:
Biology, Conservation, Ecology, Environmental Science, Geography, Marine Biology

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Project background

Scientific Background

Collisions between vessels and whales (shipstrikes) are one of the main threats to whale populations globally and are particularly prevalent in coastal areas where whales concentrate for feeding or breeding.

A variety of approaches have been attempted around the world to help reduce the frequency and severity of shipstrikes in areas with high shipping traffic, and therefore help recover whale populations. These have included rerouting shipping traffic, establishing areas to avoid, and applying Voluntary Speed Reduction measures. Some regions have designated Voluntary Speed Reduction Zones, asking vessels to reduce their transiting speed to < 10 knots to substantially reduce the risk of fatal shipstrikes (Rockwood et al., 2020). Uptake of ‘whale safe speeds’ by vessel operators in these Voluntary Speed Reduction (VSR) Zones has been more successful in some regions than others, leading researchers and protected species managers to the question; ‘what makes shipping vessels slow down for whales’?

This project will focus on shipping behaviour in two Voluntary Speed Reduction Zones in the Santa Barbara Channel and the San Francisco Bay, California. As well as the static zones, efforts to reduce shipstrikes on Humpback, Grey and Blue whales in California also include temporally dynamic voluntary speed reduction periods based on real-time whale presence data, incentive based programs and publicly available scoring of vessel operator cooperation. While cooperation voluntary speed reduction was initially slow (Morten et al., 2022), these zones have seen a strong positive increase in vessels slowing to <10 knots within the Voluntary Speed Reduction Zones in recent years. However, this adoption of whale safe behaviour has not been observed under similar efforts elsewhere.

 

Research Methodology

One hypothesis is that pressure from the media has contributed to reduced shipping speeds on the US West Coast. This project aims to determine, using data on vessel speeds within the two VSR zones, whether media pressure has had an influence on shipping speeds. Media pressure will be quantified by performing a systematic review of news articles related to the interaction between vessels and whales on the US West Coast. This media scraping will deliver a data set that can be used to investigate the influence of the media on behaviour change by shipping operators. The data set will enable us to answer questions such as;

 

  1. how has media interest in shipping interactions with whale populations changed over time?
  2. does media shaming of specific shipping operators influence the uptake of whale safe shipping speeds?
  3. does negative or positive media related to shipping activity have an influence on shipping speeds?

 

This media-focussed research aspect will contribute to a larger collaborative project aimed at understanding the efficacy of approaches taken to reduce shipstrikes risk on whales.

 

Eligibilty criteria

Students must meet all of the eligibility requirements listed below to apply for a REP:

  • Be undertaking their first undergraduate degree studies (or integrated Masters) – note that students in in their final year who have graduated and no longer have student status at the time the placement starts are not eligible;
  • Be eligible for subsequent NERC PhD funding (please see the relevant text in the ‘Terms and conditions for training funding’ and associated guidance for further information – https://www.ukri.org/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-training-funding/); and
  • Have the right to work in the UK.

 

Students from outside the UK who do not already have right to work in the UK should not apply.

How to apply

The deadline for applications will be midday (12 noon BST) on Wednesday 20 May 2026.  

In order to be considered for a placement, please apply to aries.dtp@uea.ac.uk providing the following:

  • A supporting statement explaining your motivation for applying for this project. Please include answers to the following questions:
    • which project are you applying for?
    • why have you applied for this project (e.g. what interested you about this project, what in particular made you want to undertake this research)?
    • what do you hope to achieve by undertaking this placement (e.g. is it for experience, to gain skills, to develop your interests)?
    • what skills do you have that make you an ideal candidate for this placement (e.g. what skills have you developed during your degree that might apply)?
    • what do you hope to do when you complete your degree (e.g. have you considered a working in scientific research in the future, or is this your first experience)?
  • A recent CV
  • A reference from your personal tutor (please ask your tutor to send this to us directly)
  • An interim transcript if available
  • Please also complete the online EDI form (this form is a mandatory part of the application process, but contains ‘prefer not to say’ options for all questions asked)
Selection process
  • Applications are screened for eligibility
  • Applications are forwarded to supervisors (the EDI form is not included)
  • Supervisors shortlist candidates and interview for the placement.

 

Candidates will be scored according to the following criteria:

  • Fit to project (e.g. your current skills, area of study, interests)
  • Enthusiasm for environmental research (e.g. what you hope to achieve through undertaking this placement, why you chose this project in particular)
  • Evidence of suitability to undertake a research placement (e.g. evidence from your tutor reference, transcript, and CV that you are an engaged student)

 

Successful candidates will be informed by Friday 12 June 2026.