Conversationists have aligned themselves with shipping groups to lobby the Sri Lanka government to move a 15-mile shipping lane on the south of the island so as to protect a community of blue whales.
The shipping route is one of the busiest routes in the world and is also home to a population of blue whales, which number up to 1,500 in the southern tip. These whales are faced with the threat of death as shipping containers ram into them whilst making the journey to the port of entry.
The Times reports that dozens of these wales are killed each year with a US study suggesting that for each whale strike, ten more go unreported. The whale population in Sri Lanka was once hunted to the brink of extinction but conservationist efforts restored the population as they were protected in 1946. Despite these efforts, they still remain endangered with an estimated population of only 5,000 to 15,000.
Conservationists maintain that if they were able to push the shipping lane just 15 nautical miles south would allow vessels to avoid whales as well as local traffic with very little cost. The government, however, is concerned with the economic costs as it would lower traffic to Hambantota port.
Two years ago, China took control of the Hambantota port when Sri Lanka was unable to keep up with debt repayments. Sri Lanka is still indebted to China who has funded an overhaul of Sri Lankan ports. The Times notes that this has raised concerns over China’s “debt trap diplomacy”.
Chinese investors are trying to gain revenue back from their investment into the port by establishing it as a refuelling stop. Shippers have complained of exorbitant costs imposed by the Chinese and a willingness of other shippers to dock elsewhere because of this. Nevertheless, China has continued to lobby the Sri Lankan government to maintain support for this port.
The Times has attributed inaction to “internal turmoil and growing Chinese influence”. They further maintain that moving the shipping lane would not hamper the Sri Lankan economy but may actually improve it.
Speaking to reporters, founder of the marine conservation group Oceanswell, expressed frustration with the government who she claimed was solely motivated by economic concerns. In her interview, she maintained the importance of the blue whale population stating:
“They are critical to the health of the oceans, so we’ll keep talking with the government, offering solutions to the problems they put forward […] Conservation problems are usually so complex but here, the answers are clear-cut.”
