Tragic Loss of Sperm Whale Julio Highlights Need for Strict Speed Limits
For the past decade, Julio the sperm whale had become a beloved regular in the Strait of Gibraltar. Known affectionately to scientists and locals alike, his majestic presence was a reminder of the rich marine life that graces these waters. But on Saturday, July 27, 2024, the story took a heart-wrenching turn. Julio was discovered in a devastating state, his internal organs exposed but still alive. Just a day earlier, he had been spotted in perfect health, making the sudden tragedy all the more devastating.
Julio, also known as PM-GIB-88, had been a familiar figure to the team at Conservation, Information et Recherche sur les Cétacés (CIRCE). Over the years, they had meticulously documented his visits, marvelling at his resilience and grace. But this latest sighting was one of anguish and helplessness.
The Strait of Gibraltar is a bustling maritime highway. It’s not just commercial ships that crowd these waters but also passenger ferries, private yachts, whale-watching tours, and fishing boats. This heavy traffic turns the region into a danger zone for marine life. It was already identified as a high-risk area for collisions with large whales by the intergovernmental conservation cooperation Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area (ACCOBAMS). The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) recommended already in 2007 a maximum speed of 13 knots in the Strait of Gibraltar. However, as a recently published analysis by OceanCare and Quiet-Oceans of ship traffic data from the north-western Mediterranean has shown that compliance with voluntary speed limits is dismally low.
Sperm whales in the Mediterranean struggle for survival
Julio’s death is part of a larger, troubling pattern. Dr. Renaud de Stephanis from CIRCE shared a grim statistic: In recent years, at least five sperm whales have met similar fates in the Strait, also victims of ship collisions. And these are just the recorded incidents; many more likely go unnoticed, lost in the vastness of the ocean.
The Mediterranean sperm whale population is already teetering on the edge, with only 250 to 2,500 mature individuals remaining. This has led to their classification as “endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Julio’s death is not just a single loss; it’s a blow to an entire species struggling for survival.
The Strait of Gibraltar, the natural gateway between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, is a vital corridor for marine biodiversity. It’s a migratory pathway as well as feeding and nursing ground for numerous cetacean species and has been designated an Important Marine Mammals Area (IMMA) by the IUCN. Yet, the measures in place to protect these magnificent creatures are falling short.
Only mandatory speed limits for ships can reduce fatal collision risk for whales
OceanCare has been vocal about the need for mandatory speed reduction in ecologically sensitive areas. Together with other environmental organisations, we are urging for these regulations to be enforced in the Cetacean Migration Corridor in the Spanish Mediterranean, for which a management plan is currently under development by the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO).
In our petition Because Our Planet is Blue, we ask the world’s governments to agree, at the next UN Ocean Conference in June 2025, among other action points, on mandatory measures to reduce vessel speed to protect marine species and to preserve the marine ecosystems.
Julio’s tragic end serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for action. The majestic sperm whale, who had brought so much wonder to those who watched him, now leaves behind a legacy that calls for change. The waters of the Strait of Gibraltar may be rich with life, but without stronger protection, they remain perilous for the creatures that call them home.
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