The number of whales hit by cargo ships annually is “in the hundreds”, according to one expert in the field, taking part in a panel discussion at UN Headquarters on Thursday.

Dr Howard Rosenbaum is the director of the Ocean Giants Program at the Wildlife Conservation Society.

He says the negative impacts of ship noise and ship strikes are “some of our greatest concerns” as sounds from ships can drown out whale communications.

Following the discussion focussing on the world’s shipping lanes and their impact on whales he spoke to Lucy Dean and called for greater international attention towards the problem.

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